I received an email article from FamilyLife this morning and felt like it was too good to keep to myself. Marriage is hard (for all of us...even our husbands) and often couples throw in the towel when some simple actions...really simple could have made all the difference.
Whatever the state of your marriage, I encourage you to read this. Or if your single, go ahead and give it a read to know how to handle a future relationship.
http://www.familylife.com/site/apps/nlnet/content3.aspx?c=dnJHKLNnFoG&b=3577201&ct=11199891¬oc=1&utm_campaign=TFR-20110826&utm_source=CON&utm_medium=Email-N&utm_content=article
Our commitments are worth our effort, so join me in putting down the pride and loving our guys!
Hope you have a great day!
Sharon
Phil. 4:13 - "I can do ALL things through Christ who gives me strength."
Friday, August 26, 2011
Friday, August 19, 2011
Glad/Sad to See Them Go
For some of us, School Bells sound heavenly. For others, it feels like mourning. I experience this from a homeschool world (where I am the one who "rings the bell") and as a mom of kids in public school.
Both feelings are normal. I actually feel both of the emotions. I enjoy the routine of our schedule - knowing what to expect (for the most part!) for the days. But, at the same time I miss the spontaneity of living with less of a routine.
Whatever we "feel" about the ending of summer, here are some verses that I think are encouraging. These are all about our words.
"An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up. Prov. 12:25
"A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in silver settings. Prov. 25:11 (my bible described apples of gold and silver as wisdom)
"A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger." Prov. 15:1
"Pleasant words are a honeycomb; sweet to the soul and healing to the bones." Prov. 16:25
And my favorite...."The wise in heart are called discerning and pleasant words promote instruction."Proverbs 16:21 (emphasis mine - we need all the promoting of instruction that we can get! Pleasant words are the way to help that need.)
If you have a verse that encourages you, or maybe one that you would like to pray for your family, please feel free to add to this list in your comments.
Cheering you on moms as you begin another year of loving, raising, driving, helping, washing, cleaning, and encouraging your kiddos! Sounds overwhelming, but these years will come to an end, so let's make it a great one!!
Sharon Autry
Both feelings are normal. I actually feel both of the emotions. I enjoy the routine of our schedule - knowing what to expect (for the most part!) for the days. But, at the same time I miss the spontaneity of living with less of a routine.
Whatever we "feel" about the ending of summer, here are some verses that I think are encouraging. These are all about our words.
"An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up. Prov. 12:25
"A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in silver settings. Prov. 25:11 (my bible described apples of gold and silver as wisdom)
"A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger." Prov. 15:1
"Pleasant words are a honeycomb; sweet to the soul and healing to the bones." Prov. 16:25
And my favorite...."The wise in heart are called discerning and pleasant words promote instruction."Proverbs 16:21 (emphasis mine - we need all the promoting of instruction that we can get! Pleasant words are the way to help that need.)
If you have a verse that encourages you, or maybe one that you would like to pray for your family, please feel free to add to this list in your comments.
Cheering you on moms as you begin another year of loving, raising, driving, helping, washing, cleaning, and encouraging your kiddos! Sounds overwhelming, but these years will come to an end, so let's make it a great one!!
Sharon Autry
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Family Movie Night!
Moms4FamilyTV have another great flick for us and Family Movie Night is back! Get the popcorn and your family together and enjoy an evening together! This Saturday, August 6th, 8/7c on NBC.
Who is Simon Miller? :30 Movie Trailer from Moms4FamilyTV.com on Vimeo.
Click here for a discription of the movie, along with values in the movie and discussion starter ideas for parents.Thursday, June 9, 2011
Thankful Thursday...
Today...I'm thankful for everything! Sounds silly, but even the rough stuff I know is shaping me. I'm also thankful for Shelly, our administrative assistant! Everybody needs a Shelly to help you stay on top of things! Love you girl!
Monday, June 6, 2011
Fun Monday
(Shelly) Here is a funny story that is a sign of the times. Have your kids ever acted like the gate you had to go through to get into the other room? When my daughter was three, she was the gate to the laundry room. I asked, "May I come in please?"
She replied, "Press the 'Are you sure?' button!" (You know how computers always ask you "Are you sure you want to leave this page? Yes or No.) I thought it was pretty funny!
Have your kiddos said anything silly lately? Enjoy the moments!
She replied, "Press the 'Are you sure?' button!" (You know how computers always ask you "Are you sure you want to leave this page? Yes or No.) I thought it was pretty funny!
Have your kiddos said anything silly lately? Enjoy the moments!
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Thankful Thursday
(Shelly) I've been doing a Bible study on the fruit of the Spirit. Today I'm very thankful for God's patience with me. He never gives up on me! I'm so thankful!
What are you thankful for this Thursday?
What are you thankful for this Thursday?
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Wastin' Wishes
When my husband was a kid, he would wish for things he couldn't have or didn't need--like a new bike, a designer shirt, or staying up an extra thirty minutes--and his mom would say, "You're wastin' wishes." It annoyed him then, but he has since realized that wasting wishes means wasting your time. When we are always wanting more, we miss out on what we have.
It's easy to be distracted by all the stuff. I don't necessarily want a new house, but you can bet that I want the house we have to be clean (wish #1) and I'd like it to be decorated as perfectly as the houses on HGTV (wish #2). I can wish for more money (#3) to use for decorating and maybe even some landscaping out front (#4). I can look at the clothes someone else is wearing and wish for a new wardrobe (#5). When I pull up beside a shiny SUV in my dirty van with the bumper falling off and a missing hubcap, I can feel poor and wish we could bu a fancy new vehicle (wish #6).
Our wishes could go on and on, couldn't they? Having an SUV or a landscaped yard aren't bad things. But when I'm disgruntled because our neighbor's yard looks great or I'm embarrassed to pull my vehicle out of my garage, those wishes rob me of both my time and my joy.
Have you ever been caught in the trap of wishing for things that you don't really need and can't afford? Have you found yourself irritated, finding that the source of your unhappiness is rooted in wishing for things to be different? Talk about wastin' wishes!
Again, it's not that having nice things or going shopping are bad things. It's when the nice things consume our thoughts and emotions and get in front of our relationship with God that they become a problem. When we are caught up in the stuff, we miss the joy. Proverbs 13:7 puts our wishes and wanting more in perspective:
We've all been guilty of comparing what we have with what others have. It is a trap. Don't fall for it today. When you catch yourself wishing for things to be different, stop and say thank you for what you do have. You are worth far more than the abundance of your possessions. When you are wishing for more things, remember that a showy life is an empty life. Instead, focus on being "rich toward God' (Luke 12:21 The Message). We've been given so much. How could we waste wishes, wishin' for more?
Lord, our society is filled with things we "need." Sometimes it's hard to distinguish between what we really need and what we want. Please help us focus on what You have for us. When our eyes become distracted by "stuff" or another family who seems to have it better than we do, remind us that we are rich because of our relationship with You. Our family members alone represent wealth beyond measure. Help us to be on guard against all kinds of greed. Thank You for not counting our worth by our possessions. Teach us not to fight having a plain and simple life but to value that simplicity. Wishin' for all You have for us, we pray this in Jesus' Name. Amen.
from Laurie and Sharon's book Hold You, Mommy
It's easy to be distracted by all the stuff. I don't necessarily want a new house, but you can bet that I want the house we have to be clean (wish #1) and I'd like it to be decorated as perfectly as the houses on HGTV (wish #2). I can wish for more money (#3) to use for decorating and maybe even some landscaping out front (#4). I can look at the clothes someone else is wearing and wish for a new wardrobe (#5). When I pull up beside a shiny SUV in my dirty van with the bumper falling off and a missing hubcap, I can feel poor and wish we could bu a fancy new vehicle (wish #6).
Our wishes could go on and on, couldn't they? Having an SUV or a landscaped yard aren't bad things. But when I'm disgruntled because our neighbor's yard looks great or I'm embarrassed to pull my vehicle out of my garage, those wishes rob me of both my time and my joy.
Have you ever been caught in the trap of wishing for things that you don't really need and can't afford? Have you found yourself irritated, finding that the source of your unhappiness is rooted in wishing for things to be different? Talk about wastin' wishes!
Again, it's not that having nice things or going shopping are bad things. It's when the nice things consume our thoughts and emotions and get in front of our relationship with God that they become a problem. When we are caught up in the stuff, we miss the joy. Proverbs 13:7 puts our wishes and wanting more in perspective:
Luke 12:15 warns us to "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions" (or the school his child attends, or the job he holds). I have often told my children that we might not be rich in money, but we are rich in relationships--with God and one another. They believe it and have reminded me on my "wastin' wishes" days that we are rich because we have "the coolest family in the world.""A pretentious, showy life is an empty life; a plain and simple life is a full life" (The Message).
We've all been guilty of comparing what we have with what others have. It is a trap. Don't fall for it today. When you catch yourself wishing for things to be different, stop and say thank you for what you do have. You are worth far more than the abundance of your possessions. When you are wishing for more things, remember that a showy life is an empty life. Instead, focus on being "rich toward God' (Luke 12:21 The Message). We've been given so much. How could we waste wishes, wishin' for more?
Lord, our society is filled with things we "need." Sometimes it's hard to distinguish between what we really need and what we want. Please help us focus on what You have for us. When our eyes become distracted by "stuff" or another family who seems to have it better than we do, remind us that we are rich because of our relationship with You. Our family members alone represent wealth beyond measure. Help us to be on guard against all kinds of greed. Thank You for not counting our worth by our possessions. Teach us not to fight having a plain and simple life but to value that simplicity. Wishin' for all You have for us, we pray this in Jesus' Name. Amen.
from Laurie and Sharon's book Hold You, Mommy
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