Monday's Motto

Actions speak louder than words.

This is especially true with our children.  We can talk to them all day about being kind to each other but if we are not kind to our spouses or to them, our words are worthless.

They will pick up more from the way we act than from what we say.

Monday's Motto

Life is not fair.

Suck it up and move on.

I not only tell my kids this, sometimes I have to remind myself!

Monday's Motto

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood,

but against the rulers,

against the authorities,

against the cosmic powers over this present darkness,

against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

Ephesians 6:12

There are days we feel we are wrestling our own flesh and blood ~also known as our children.  In reality we are fighting for our flesh and blood against the enemy and his evil forces. 

Stand strong Warrior Mamas!!

Monday's Motto

Live like no one else now,

so you can live like no one else later.

~Dave Ramsey~

This week I'm focusing on finances/money. We are going through Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University with some friends. Loving it. I recommend it to anyone.

What he means by the above is that everyone else (or most people) live beyond their means financially. They buy things they can't afford to impress people they don't really like. Or they just don't have the self-control to stay out of debt. Credit card debt, auto debt and student loans are rampant!!

Dave says if you can't pay cash for it, don't buy it.

After going through bankruptcy 20 years ago, he has only used cash and doesn't even have credit cards. He says the FICO score is really your "I love debt" score.

He is now a multi-millionaire and actually paid back all the debts he was cleared of when he filed bankruptcy - even the banks.

He says we should live below our means now (like no one else) and pay off debt, save 3-6 months expenses, etc. (see Baby Steps). Then one day you will be able to live like no one else because you will be financially secure.

You can also listen to him on the radio or on-line. He's on our local radio station for several hours starting at 3:00 every afternoon. I'm addicted. The kids even ask to listen.

He's also got a book called The Total Money Makeover.

Come back tomorrow to hear one of our money stories...

Monday's Motto

Hospitality is this:

What we have received from the Lord,
we gladly share with you.

This was one of the quotes from last Monday's "Evenings with Victoria Botkin." Her point was that as mothers we have seasons. If you have young ones at home, this may not be the time for Martha Stewart entertaining. It's the season for adding an extra plate at the table for mac-n-cheese. It's fellowship while folding laundry.

Gotta tell ya, that is extremely freeing for me!

Monday's Motto

Our greatest distraction to our devotion for God

is our service for Him.

~Oswald Chambers

In other words, we can get so wrapped up in minstries, serving and doing, that it is actually a distraction to our relationship with Him.

Monday's Motto

Just because you can, doesn't mean you should.

Just because we can give our children things or take them places, doesn't mean we should. 
Just because we can give our children options for meals, doesn't mean we should.

We live in America. The majority of us are overindulged - our kids are no exception.

Learning to do without is not a bad thing.

Obviously, I don't mean never do any of the above.  But think about it.  When are your kids the most discontent or show the most greediness?  Birthdays and Christmas?  What do they have in common?  Getting stuff and going places. 

Just something to think about.

Monday's Motto

"Don't say you're not going to do something just because it's hard."

Had this conversation with one of my children over math.  She said she wasn't going to go to college because she didn't want to have to do math.

I told her I didn't mind if she didn't go to college. I want her to do whatever God wants her to do.  But I told her not to say she wouldn't do something just because it's hard.  She may miss out on many other blessings.

Every day of my life, I regret that Roddy had a vasectomy because I thought having another child would be too hard.  Fortunately, I got Iris anyway.  But how many blessings have I missed out on because I said having another child would be too hard?

If I could have one do-over in my life, it would be that.  Oh the regrets.

Monday's Motto

The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me;

your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever.

Do not forsake the work of your hands.

Psalm 138:8

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work

in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

Philippians 1:6

He's got a lot of work to do in me! I'm claiming these verses because I sure don't want to stay as I am.

Monday's Motto

Pleasant
Attitude
Though
I
Enjoy
Not
Circumstances in
Existence

Patience is a lot of things. I made an acronym to help me remember one aspect of it.

Patience is having a pleasant attitude

even though I may not enjoy

the circumstances that currently exist!

Monday's Motto

"Enjoy those kids today!"

This is what Roddy tells me everyday when he leaves for work.  Good advice.  Enjoy them now, before I know it, they will be grown and out of the house. I will miss all the work, interuptions, and messes.

Monday's Motto

The entire law is summed up in a single command:

"Love your neighbor as yourself."
If you keep on biting and devouring each other,

watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.

Galatians 5:14-15

I hope your new year is filled with love for one another...in word and deed.

We're so fallible as humans in our understanding of each other. I hope we can see that in ourselves and learn to accept each other as unique creations in need of help from a perfect, infallible God. This is certainly something I need to continue to develop in my life.

Monday's Motto

For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you

not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think,

but to think with sober judgment,

each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.

For as in one body we have many members,

and the members do not all have the same function,

so we, though many, are one body in Christ,

and individually members one of another.

Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them:

if prophecy, in proportion to our faith;

if service, in our serving;

the one who teaches, in his teaching;

the one who exhorts, in his exhortation;

the one who contributes, in generosity;

the one who leads, with zeal;

the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.

Romans 12:3-8

I have more to say about these verses (this motto).  Check back tomorrow...

Monday's Motto

In honor of Tiger, I thought I'd share this Wagner family motto...

If it's not yours, don't touch it.

Monday's Motto

Whenever Christmas begins to burden,

it's a sign that I've taken on something of the world and not of Christ.

~Ann Voskamp

Monday's Motto

The value of anything

is the price it pays in eternity.

What are you investing in?

Monday's Motto

Stick and stones may break the bones

But harsh words can wound for a lifetime.

Monday's Motto

Sin is like a weed...

Ignoring it won't make it go away!

Monday's Motto

Order of Priorities:

God

Family

Others

Self

Monday's Motto

You get what you put up with.

I'm referring to parenting. What you're willing to allow in your home -disrespect, disobedience, sibling rivalry, etc- is what you will get.

If you take the time to model, train, consistently and patiently correct and discipline what you don't want in your home, you won't have it. It won't be 100% of the time, but you will see a significant difference.