Do you carry a large purse? Do you feel that overwhelming need to have everything you might need in case of an emergency or if you are stranded somewhere?
Or do you just carry a large purse, not intending on carrying your life with you, it just happens to collect everything over time?
Or do you feel you need to have anything and everything in case someone else might need something, and that nurturing makes you feel good about yourself?
Many moms feel like they must carry a ton of stuff with them all the time because there is just no telling what their child might need. Being a mom of three, I fully understand this feeling. I carry a purse, and a diaper bag with me these days. The older two, which are now 7 and 9, really don't need that much, but take advantage often of what they might find in the bag such as snacks, drinks, candy, and wipes if they make a mess of something. But my baby who is almost 3, still needs most of the necessities such as change of clothes, extra shoes, pull-ups, wipes, snacks, toys, ect because she still makes messes and needs entertainment on certain occasions.
But how many people out there are still carrying around these large bags when they only have themselves to worry about? A recent study by a local chiropractic association says that the average purse weighs about 14 pounds! Why are we doing this to ourselves ladies!!?? You may not realize it, but that actually affects your body. It can cause lop-sidedness, problems with posture, and back, shoulder, and neck problems.
Galatians 6:5 says "each one should carry his own load", But, the bible didn't say make it has heavy as possible! LOL
I have listed several ways below to still carry your things you might need at any given moment, yet still consolidated so you aren't carrying such a big load.
1. Do you have several medicine bottles in your purse? Consolidate! Get one big medicine bottle, take each type of pill you think you might need and a couple in their own little craft baggie that's only about an inch wide, write on each baggie what it is, along with dosage, and put all of them in the one bottle. Presto!
2. Is your bag littered with receipts? This one is easy...DON'T leave them there. At the end of your day, always put them in a prepared folder or firebox for easy retrieval should you need them later. If you are like me, you'll leave them in there so long that you get tired of seeing them and throw them away, or throw them out of your purse somewhere, and then need them and they aren't there.
3. Do you really need all that makeup with you all the time? Most girls I know, carry their makeup bag with them in their purses as well. This is partially what makes our bags so heavy! After you've done your makeup in the morning, all you really need to take with you is some lipstick, lip gloss, and maybe some pressed powder. If you've got an event that night, leave the bag in your trunk inside a cooler with an ice pack to keep it from overheating. There's no need in wagging it around all day.
4. Only buy purses with pockets in the inside to help you organize. Don't buy ones with pockets on the outside, though. You make yourself a victim of theft too easily that way. Anyone can come by and snatch your phone on the street or desk when you are away if it is visible. Designate each pocket inside for keys, phone, or even an inhaler for easy grabbing without having to shuffle around in your bag to find them.
5. Get a big enough wallet to carry all your cards, pictures, and ID's in one. With all the new discount cards we all carry for the different stores we frequent, it really adds up and can be hard to keep up with if we don't have them organized in one place. Some stores also give you the key chain version, so store the card at home, and the key chain version will keep up with itself! Unless, of course, you misplace your keys, then I can't help ya! haha
6. Don't let anything just float around in your purse, other than your wallet itself. Buy about three different small, clear, makeup bags. Separate things like your lip gloss, powder, beauty products into one. In another, things like gum, band aids, candy, medicine in small baggie, small tissue pack, safety pins, pony tail holders, bobby pins, ect.. Then in the other I would recommend a two ink pens, a small notepad, tokens for transportation (if you take public transit), an extra house key (should you lose your keys), and any other miscellaneous necessity you might need during your day.
7. Don't go too small, and don't go too big. If you go too small, these things won't fit inside. Your purse will look like it's about to throw up all your belongings, and the straps will break fairly quickly because a small purse is not made to carry that much weight. BUT, Don't go to big either, because you will surely stuff more and more stuff in your bag and make it too easy to get disorganized. You will lose your knack at organizing and just begin to throw things in your bag again just because they fit!
I hope these idea's help you out. If you can think of any other great idea's to help us girls organize our bags, feel free to email me or post a comment below! Thanks!
Www.AskThePreachersWife@gmail.com
The Preacher and his wife :)
Monday, February 25, 2013
Friday, February 22, 2013
Religious..but LOST
21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ Matthew
I think there are many people out there who believe they are following Jesus, that they are "Christians", and are living life the way that Jesus would have them. They may be faithful members of the church who give every single Sunday to the offering plate, they sing in the choir, they volunteer their time to church activities, they might even teach Sunday School.
But sadly, they've missed the mark. They think that all the things they are DOING are the keys to getting in good with Jesus, and ultimately on that day, will open the doors of Heaven for them.
These folks may have grown up in a Christian home, where the Bible was read and prayers were offered. They may have been taught impeccable morals. God has offered his grace freely to all. We must choose to receive or reject it. Unfortunately, the religious but lost have chosen to reject that free grace, in favor of their own good works and self justification, even without realizing it.
The only means of covering sin is by faith in Christ's atonement. All those outside of genuine faith live in their sin, which exposes them to the wrath of God. All that stands between them and the burning flames of hell is simple trust. Yet they refuse, either willfully, or through the irresponsible act of neglect to that small voice calling inside that says..."Step out, trust me. You're not yet right!"
They probably hear that voice, but are confused by it because in their minds they are doing good, their sin is minimal, they believe in God, they believe Jesus died on the cross, yet they've forgotten that Jesus said they must REPENT of their sins.
Sure, they may pray, and tell God to take their sins away. But true repentance means that they are truly sorry for the things they have done and never want to do them again. Repentance means you literally turn yourself around in a 180 and go the opposite direction. But these people who are religious, think that all the good things they do make up for those things that are sinful.
There have been great men who laid down their lives, even gave their bodies to be burned, who were religious but lost. One example of such a religious but lost martyr was Joseph Smith, the founder of Mormanism. Mormons believe that one's salvation is based on such good works as baptism, good deeds, missionary work, and following Mormon teachings.
Being religious means following a certain set of rules or doctrines. It means that I go to a church (or synagogue or temple or whatever), and I do what the pastor (or priest, or rabbi) tells me I should. It means that I believe, that by doing what I should do, I am some how getting closer to God. This is not Christianity at all.
Being religious is being a "doer" manipulated by guilt, to try to please a God who is distant, sitting up there just waiting for them to mess up so he can strike them down.
Being Christian on the other hand, offers more freedom, as it is not based on rules and regulations, but on a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. A Christian knows that he is a sinner saved by grace and that when he follows Christ, the Holy Spirit will do the work of change from the inside out. It is a growing process. The deeper your relationship with Christ becomes, the more you want to follow Him, and the more Christ-like you become.
Being a Christian means being a hearer, not a doer, not manipulated by guilt, but by the desire to please the Lord, who is intimately involved with every step of their life, who patiently and lovingly picks them up when they fall.
Not to say that Christian's are not "doers", because they should be. But a Christians works come out of a deep dedication to their Lord to follow Jesus' teachings. Their HEART wants to do things for others, because they have the one and only true love -Jesus- living there. They don't do good works for the purpose of "Look what I did", or "This makes me a better person". Or at least they SHOULDNT. Its very easy to get caught up in that way of thinking, but a Christian does the good works because they WANT to, not because they feel they HAVE to in order to get on God's good side.
They know that they stepped out on faith that day Jesus spoke to their hearts and said, "Its time, trust me, follow me, put your faith in me, I died for you so that you may live, set yourself aside and live in ME, and I will become the Lord of your life". The only thing they ever have to do to become a Christian, secure their right to Heaven, is Repent of their lives, and follow Jesus.
It sounds so easy, doesn't it? But is it really that easy to leave behind who you are up until this point? Is it that easy to quit smoking cold turkey? Is it easy to control your foul mouth just because you've decided not to curse anymore? It is easy to stop hanging out with those best friends you've had since elementary school that you party and experiment drugs and alcohol with? Is it easy to go from a life of sexual immorality to saving yourself for your wedding day?
NOO! It's the HARDEST thing you will ever do! And no amount of good deeds is going to cover it up!
But, repentance means that you give all that up! You commit to never doing that stuff again and Jesus tells us is hurtful to our bodies, which is now HIS Temple. Where HE resides!
Are you going to mess up? Most definitely! But, Jesus died on the cross for ALL our sins.
It's not easy to just give up that life as we've known it to be thus far. If you put your trust in Jesus to take away those desires, He will do it. Sure, we may let ourselves get in the way, and that is the time to turn it back over to Him. Confess it! Lay it down! If we WANT him to change us, He will.
It may be hard, but no where near as hard as having to remember every single little white lie, cross word, or sinful thought or action and having to do a good deed, or confess to a priest, in order to be free of it. (which in that case you never really are).
Don't be religious... it's too much work!
Be a follower of JESUS- The ONLY way to Eternal Life!
"Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." Romans 10:13
"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." Romans 10:9
"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast". Ephesians 2:8-9
"Salvation comes to those who do not work for salvation, but believe on Jesus Christ instead!" Romans 4:5
I think there are many people out there who believe they are following Jesus, that they are "Christians", and are living life the way that Jesus would have them. They may be faithful members of the church who give every single Sunday to the offering plate, they sing in the choir, they volunteer their time to church activities, they might even teach Sunday School.
But sadly, they've missed the mark. They think that all the things they are DOING are the keys to getting in good with Jesus, and ultimately on that day, will open the doors of Heaven for them.
These folks may have grown up in a Christian home, where the Bible was read and prayers were offered. They may have been taught impeccable morals. God has offered his grace freely to all. We must choose to receive or reject it. Unfortunately, the religious but lost have chosen to reject that free grace, in favor of their own good works and self justification, even without realizing it.
The only means of covering sin is by faith in Christ's atonement. All those outside of genuine faith live in their sin, which exposes them to the wrath of God. All that stands between them and the burning flames of hell is simple trust. Yet they refuse, either willfully, or through the irresponsible act of neglect to that small voice calling inside that says..."Step out, trust me. You're not yet right!"
They probably hear that voice, but are confused by it because in their minds they are doing good, their sin is minimal, they believe in God, they believe Jesus died on the cross, yet they've forgotten that Jesus said they must REPENT of their sins.
Sure, they may pray, and tell God to take their sins away. But true repentance means that they are truly sorry for the things they have done and never want to do them again. Repentance means you literally turn yourself around in a 180 and go the opposite direction. But these people who are religious, think that all the good things they do make up for those things that are sinful.
There have been great men who laid down their lives, even gave their bodies to be burned, who were religious but lost. One example of such a religious but lost martyr was Joseph Smith, the founder of Mormanism. Mormons believe that one's salvation is based on such good works as baptism, good deeds, missionary work, and following Mormon teachings.
Being religious means following a certain set of rules or doctrines. It means that I go to a church (or synagogue or temple or whatever), and I do what the pastor (or priest, or rabbi) tells me I should. It means that I believe, that by doing what I should do, I am some how getting closer to God. This is not Christianity at all.
Being religious is being a "doer" manipulated by guilt, to try to please a God who is distant, sitting up there just waiting for them to mess up so he can strike them down.
Being Christian on the other hand, offers more freedom, as it is not based on rules and regulations, but on a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. A Christian knows that he is a sinner saved by grace and that when he follows Christ, the Holy Spirit will do the work of change from the inside out. It is a growing process. The deeper your relationship with Christ becomes, the more you want to follow Him, and the more Christ-like you become.
Being a Christian means being a hearer, not a doer, not manipulated by guilt, but by the desire to please the Lord, who is intimately involved with every step of their life, who patiently and lovingly picks them up when they fall.
Not to say that Christian's are not "doers", because they should be. But a Christians works come out of a deep dedication to their Lord to follow Jesus' teachings. Their HEART wants to do things for others, because they have the one and only true love -Jesus- living there. They don't do good works for the purpose of "Look what I did", or "This makes me a better person". Or at least they SHOULDNT. Its very easy to get caught up in that way of thinking, but a Christian does the good works because they WANT to, not because they feel they HAVE to in order to get on God's good side.
They know that they stepped out on faith that day Jesus spoke to their hearts and said, "Its time, trust me, follow me, put your faith in me, I died for you so that you may live, set yourself aside and live in ME, and I will become the Lord of your life". The only thing they ever have to do to become a Christian, secure their right to Heaven, is Repent of their lives, and follow Jesus.
It sounds so easy, doesn't it? But is it really that easy to leave behind who you are up until this point? Is it that easy to quit smoking cold turkey? Is it easy to control your foul mouth just because you've decided not to curse anymore? It is easy to stop hanging out with those best friends you've had since elementary school that you party and experiment drugs and alcohol with? Is it easy to go from a life of sexual immorality to saving yourself for your wedding day?
NOO! It's the HARDEST thing you will ever do! And no amount of good deeds is going to cover it up!
But, repentance means that you give all that up! You commit to never doing that stuff again and Jesus tells us is hurtful to our bodies, which is now HIS Temple. Where HE resides!
Are you going to mess up? Most definitely! But, Jesus died on the cross for ALL our sins.
It's not easy to just give up that life as we've known it to be thus far. If you put your trust in Jesus to take away those desires, He will do it. Sure, we may let ourselves get in the way, and that is the time to turn it back over to Him. Confess it! Lay it down! If we WANT him to change us, He will.
It may be hard, but no where near as hard as having to remember every single little white lie, cross word, or sinful thought or action and having to do a good deed, or confess to a priest, in order to be free of it. (which in that case you never really are).
Don't be religious... it's too much work!
Be a follower of JESUS- The ONLY way to Eternal Life!
"Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." Romans 10:13
"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." Romans 10:9
"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast". Ephesians 2:8-9
"Salvation comes to those who do not work for salvation, but believe on Jesus Christ instead!" Romans 4:5
Sunday, February 17, 2013
God Of The Universe!
Thursday, February 14, 2013
Lupercalia or Valentine's Day?
There seems to be some speculation on the origin's of Valentine's Day. I decided I would blog today about Valentine's Day and share where it first started. But, I'm a little confused. SO, I will share the facts with you and let you decide for yourselves :)
Of course, all the text to follow is just information I found online and other people's opinions.
One Version of the Story....
Lupercalia was a fertility festival dedicated to Faunus, the Roman God of Agriculture, (the date in February was originally chosen to welcome spring) and to the Roman founders Romulus and Remus commemorating young men's rite of passage.
A lottery was held where all the young women in the city would place their names in a big urn and the city's bachelors would then each choose a name out of the urn and the girl would be the sexual partner of the young man for a year.
I Different Version of the Story......
In 498 A.D. Pope Gelasius of the Christian Church declared the celebration a pagan holiday, and decided to Christianize it. He did this by creating a "misinformation" celebration on the day before the festival of Lupercalia, February 14th, in the hopes of confusing the entire matter.
Instead of the names of young women, the urn would contain the names of Christian Saints and the young men and women were to emulate the ways of the saint they picked from the urn for a year.
And Yet Another side of the story......
Saint Valentine was a Roman who was killed for his faith on February 14, 269 A.D. He had refused to worship pagan gods, and some stories say he was a priest who would marry young couples in secret who shared the Christian faith and wanted a Christian wedding dedicating their marriage to God. In 496, his 'saint day' was established. He is associated with love because he fell in love with the daughter of his jailer, and would pass notes to her. His final note, before he was executed, read 'from your Valentine'.
In Italy, with its romantic and religious roots, St Valentine's Day became the traditional day to be engaged. Young Romans would spend this day gathered together in gardens to listen to romantic poetry and music.
As with many holidays, the celebration of St. Valentine's Day became a mixture of the new Christian rites as well as the older pagan rites of that same time of year.
My opinion......
No matter where "Valentine's Day" came from, today is about love. What is love? None other than Jesus. So share Jesus' love with everyone you meet today!
Of course, all the text to follow is just information I found online and other people's opinions.
One Version of the Story....
Lupercalia was a fertility festival dedicated to Faunus, the Roman God of Agriculture, (the date in February was originally chosen to welcome spring) and to the Roman founders Romulus and Remus commemorating young men's rite of passage.
A lottery was held where all the young women in the city would place their names in a big urn and the city's bachelors would then each choose a name out of the urn and the girl would be the sexual partner of the young man for a year.
I Different Version of the Story......
In 498 A.D. Pope Gelasius of the Christian Church declared the celebration a pagan holiday, and decided to Christianize it. He did this by creating a "misinformation" celebration on the day before the festival of Lupercalia, February 14th, in the hopes of confusing the entire matter.
Instead of the names of young women, the urn would contain the names of Christian Saints and the young men and women were to emulate the ways of the saint they picked from the urn for a year.
And Yet Another side of the story......
Saint Valentine was a Roman who was killed for his faith on February 14, 269 A.D. He had refused to worship pagan gods, and some stories say he was a priest who would marry young couples in secret who shared the Christian faith and wanted a Christian wedding dedicating their marriage to God. In 496, his 'saint day' was established. He is associated with love because he fell in love with the daughter of his jailer, and would pass notes to her. His final note, before he was executed, read 'from your Valentine'.
In Italy, with its romantic and religious roots, St Valentine's Day became the traditional day to be engaged. Young Romans would spend this day gathered together in gardens to listen to romantic poetry and music.
As with many holidays, the celebration of St. Valentine's Day became a mixture of the new Christian rites as well as the older pagan rites of that same time of year.
My opinion......
No matter where "Valentine's Day" came from, today is about love. What is love? None other than Jesus. So share Jesus' love with everyone you meet today!
Monday, February 11, 2013
What Girls REALLY Want for Valentines! Listen up Boys!
At Valentines, we are supposed to do something, give something, and have a card that says just the right thing about how we feel about our significant other. I think many guys get all bent out of shape over this because they really just don't know what to do.
Do I give her the same ole' teddy bear and box of chocolates? Do I buy her jewelry? Do I make something because I'm creative and want to show her that something from the heart is more important than throwing money down on something and calling it special? Does she really care if I buy her roses? Will an I.O.U suffice because I simply had no idea what to do, or ran out of time??
Lets address each of those individually....
Do I give her the same ole' teddy bear and box of chocolates?
What did you give her last year? If you did this last year, then NO. Spice it up! Do something different! But, if you do give her this, find the biggest teddy bear you can! If it doesn't already have ribbon, find some pretty sparkly, thick, ribbon and tie it around the bears kneck. Include a hand written love note tied on to the ribbon. If you buy chocolates, make sure you get the kind she likes! I personally do not like nuts, so any candy with nuts would not be a good pick. If you don't know, then buy truffles from a specialty candy store! What girl doesn't like Milk Chocolate Truffles??
Do I buy her jewelry?
Unless you are planning on proposing, do NOT buy a ring. Because as soon as she see's that box, that's the first thing she will think! What a let down that would be! Buy a necklace, or a bracelet. And you must spend at least $100. Don't buy something cheap or not real. If you can't afford this much, then don't bother. Why? Because in a girls mind, your jewelry cost defines how much you love her. And yes, every girl finds a way to find out how much you spent and what its worth!
Do I make something because I'm creative and want to show her that something from the heart is more important than throwing money down on something and calling it special?
This is a tricky one. Something hand made, and from the heart is very special. If you really do put a lot of time and brain power into this, you can pull it off fairly well. But, if it looks cheap, like it took no more than 5 minutes to create, then it will probably appear you did not want to spend the money and went cheap on her. This is always a good option for those guys who don't have a lot of money to spend. If you do this, make it LOOK like you spent money and time on it.
Don't give her a poem on regular paper. Type it up, use pretty paper, place the paper on a piece of pink or red construction paper or card stock to create a boarder. Spray it with your cologne. If you've got a little extra cash, buy a pretty frame to put it in. You need at least one rose to go with this. And give it to her as soon as you greet her at the door.
If you're musically inclined, Sing the poem to her. Bonus points for sure!!
Does she really care if I buy her roses?
YES. Yes. And YES. The only exception to this would be if you knew her favorite flower and wanted to show her you "noticed" her likes. This can mean a lot to know you cared more about getting her something special to her liking, than going with the traditional flower. Also, the MORE flowers the BETTER. This is like jewelry, the more you spend shows just how big your love is. If you can't afford a whole dozen, or two, or three, then even ONE rose can get the point across to the right girl. But it all has to do with how you present it. Dress it up. Add ribbon and maybe baby's breath. Wrap the stem in a pretty tissue paper. Never include a vase, because it will look like you bought it that way. If you go with only one rose, include a little card that says something like; "Two hearts, One rose, One love" or something sappy like that ;)
Even if you buy her something expensive, you should include at least one rose. If you can afford to spend the money on the gift, then a few extra dollars for a flower will show her you went the extra mile :)
Will and I.O.U suffice because I simply didn't know what to do or ran out of time?
Um...NO! DUH! Every girl in America thinks "If you couldn't take time out of your day, just ONE day a year, to do something special for me, then that means you really could care less about my feelings or our relationship". You appear thoughtless, or careless. She may say different, but she thinks it. Don't get caught that last day without even thinking about what you want to do, and empty handed. Take time to really think about it, and prepare. The more you procrastinate, the less thoughtful your gift is going to appear.
Now, if you really do get stuck in this situation because of things out of your control- Run by a spa, or her favorite jewelry store, department store, or specialty shop and buy her a gift certificate. If you go this route, $50 should be the minimum! You can't buy ANYTHING nice for less than $50 these days. If she doesn't get the immediate gratification from your gift on Valentines, she needs to look forward to spending it. She's going to feel cheated if you give her anything less.
Then, on your way to her house stop by a flower shop or even gas station for at least one flower. At this point, you may not be able to find any roses, so the nicest flower you can find may be the best shot you got!
In all the hustle and bustle today, we might forget to show our loved ones just how special they are, and how much we love them. Don't let Valentines get caught up in the business of life. Set that day apart and try your best to WOW her and make her feel special. If you can't go out and buy the expensive stuff, then do something simple, but MEANINGFUL. Leave a rose on her pillow, or on her windshield, with a hand written note expressing your feelings. Make a pic-nick and take a stroll in a park. Take her to her favorite restaurant or rent her favorite movie and snuggle in on the couch.
All the things listed above are superficial, materialistic. Some girls really go for that, or even require it. But, I say it's all about SHOWING your love, than it is how much money you spend. If you can afford to do an expensive gift along with just doing something special, great! But, if not, any good girl is going to appreciate the thought you put into making the day special without spending a bunch of money. If you do something simple, and actually put some thought into it, and she gets upset because you didn't spend- then you probably need to rethink that relationship. If she really cares about you, she cares about what you DID do for her, not what you DIDNT.
Here are a few bible verses that speak to healthy relationships. Read each one. It might help you in deciding how to express your love this Valentines Day, and you might can even use one on your hand written card :)
Romans 12:9-10
Proverbs 31:10
An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels.
Mark 10:9
What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.
Ephesians 5:33
However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.
Do I give her the same ole' teddy bear and box of chocolates? Do I buy her jewelry? Do I make something because I'm creative and want to show her that something from the heart is more important than throwing money down on something and calling it special? Does she really care if I buy her roses? Will an I.O.U suffice because I simply had no idea what to do, or ran out of time??
Lets address each of those individually....
Do I give her the same ole' teddy bear and box of chocolates?
What did you give her last year? If you did this last year, then NO. Spice it up! Do something different! But, if you do give her this, find the biggest teddy bear you can! If it doesn't already have ribbon, find some pretty sparkly, thick, ribbon and tie it around the bears kneck. Include a hand written love note tied on to the ribbon. If you buy chocolates, make sure you get the kind she likes! I personally do not like nuts, so any candy with nuts would not be a good pick. If you don't know, then buy truffles from a specialty candy store! What girl doesn't like Milk Chocolate Truffles??
Do I buy her jewelry?
Unless you are planning on proposing, do NOT buy a ring. Because as soon as she see's that box, that's the first thing she will think! What a let down that would be! Buy a necklace, or a bracelet. And you must spend at least $100. Don't buy something cheap or not real. If you can't afford this much, then don't bother. Why? Because in a girls mind, your jewelry cost defines how much you love her. And yes, every girl finds a way to find out how much you spent and what its worth!
Do I make something because I'm creative and want to show her that something from the heart is more important than throwing money down on something and calling it special?
This is a tricky one. Something hand made, and from the heart is very special. If you really do put a lot of time and brain power into this, you can pull it off fairly well. But, if it looks cheap, like it took no more than 5 minutes to create, then it will probably appear you did not want to spend the money and went cheap on her. This is always a good option for those guys who don't have a lot of money to spend. If you do this, make it LOOK like you spent money and time on it.
Don't give her a poem on regular paper. Type it up, use pretty paper, place the paper on a piece of pink or red construction paper or card stock to create a boarder. Spray it with your cologne. If you've got a little extra cash, buy a pretty frame to put it in. You need at least one rose to go with this. And give it to her as soon as you greet her at the door.
If you're musically inclined, Sing the poem to her. Bonus points for sure!!
Does she really care if I buy her roses?
YES. Yes. And YES. The only exception to this would be if you knew her favorite flower and wanted to show her you "noticed" her likes. This can mean a lot to know you cared more about getting her something special to her liking, than going with the traditional flower. Also, the MORE flowers the BETTER. This is like jewelry, the more you spend shows just how big your love is. If you can't afford a whole dozen, or two, or three, then even ONE rose can get the point across to the right girl. But it all has to do with how you present it. Dress it up. Add ribbon and maybe baby's breath. Wrap the stem in a pretty tissue paper. Never include a vase, because it will look like you bought it that way. If you go with only one rose, include a little card that says something like; "Two hearts, One rose, One love" or something sappy like that ;)
Even if you buy her something expensive, you should include at least one rose. If you can afford to spend the money on the gift, then a few extra dollars for a flower will show her you went the extra mile :)
Will and I.O.U suffice because I simply didn't know what to do or ran out of time?
Um...NO! DUH! Every girl in America thinks "If you couldn't take time out of your day, just ONE day a year, to do something special for me, then that means you really could care less about my feelings or our relationship". You appear thoughtless, or careless. She may say different, but she thinks it. Don't get caught that last day without even thinking about what you want to do, and empty handed. Take time to really think about it, and prepare. The more you procrastinate, the less thoughtful your gift is going to appear.
Now, if you really do get stuck in this situation because of things out of your control- Run by a spa, or her favorite jewelry store, department store, or specialty shop and buy her a gift certificate. If you go this route, $50 should be the minimum! You can't buy ANYTHING nice for less than $50 these days. If she doesn't get the immediate gratification from your gift on Valentines, she needs to look forward to spending it. She's going to feel cheated if you give her anything less.
Then, on your way to her house stop by a flower shop or even gas station for at least one flower. At this point, you may not be able to find any roses, so the nicest flower you can find may be the best shot you got!
In all the hustle and bustle today, we might forget to show our loved ones just how special they are, and how much we love them. Don't let Valentines get caught up in the business of life. Set that day apart and try your best to WOW her and make her feel special. If you can't go out and buy the expensive stuff, then do something simple, but MEANINGFUL. Leave a rose on her pillow, or on her windshield, with a hand written note expressing your feelings. Make a pic-nick and take a stroll in a park. Take her to her favorite restaurant or rent her favorite movie and snuggle in on the couch.
All the things listed above are superficial, materialistic. Some girls really go for that, or even require it. But, I say it's all about SHOWING your love, than it is how much money you spend. If you can afford to do an expensive gift along with just doing something special, great! But, if not, any good girl is going to appreciate the thought you put into making the day special without spending a bunch of money. If you do something simple, and actually put some thought into it, and she gets upset because you didn't spend- then you probably need to rethink that relationship. If she really cares about you, she cares about what you DID do for her, not what you DIDNT.
Here are a few bible verses that speak to healthy relationships. Read each one. It might help you in deciding how to express your love this Valentines Day, and you might can even use one on your hand written card :)
Romans 12:9-10
Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.
Proverbs 31:10
An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels.
Mark 10:9
What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.
Ephesians 5:33
However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Are YOU A Vampire Church Member???
Are you a part of a "vampire" church? Or are you a "vampire" church member?
I've been to so many churches in recent years that are so dead inside, I don't know why they even stay open. They live amongst the living, and pretend they have something pumping inside, but when you take a closer look you see their ministry is colder than ice. No matter how hard you try to revamp their hunger for discipleship, community involvement, and just that thirst for feeling God move in their lives and their church, they just won't budge.
They are vampires offended at the suggestion that they live in the day time. Sucking the blood out of what their purpose truly is.
They may keep their pews warm, but the body has no movement, no purpose, no real definition.
These churches are unwilling to let go of tradition, or what used to be. They expect the old ways of doing things to just magically reach the people of today. They are unwilling to work for ANYTHING.
They come to church, sing a few songs, listen to the preacher, eat each others pot luck dinners, and go home. They are Zombies following the routine they think they are supposed to follow, missing the whole point!
Are they even seeking God? Are they even seeking to reach out to their community in service, or to win other's for Jesus?
THIS IS WHAT'S WRONG WITH MANY CHURCHES TODAY!
We need a revival! Wake up your dead bodies and have some purpose! America needs you! Don't understand why America is failing? Because these same bench warmers sit back and let it happen because they are unwilling to stand up and take it back!
We can't afford to be vampires anymore sucking out what life the church has left! How can we expect anyone to help this nation, when we have so many who aren't even trying to save their own churches?
They sit back and watch their church fail, but just can't understand WHY. Well, because you did NOTHING to save it!
I Shall Not Want
Psalm 23: 1-4
"The Lord is my Shepard, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures: He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul : He leads me in the way of righteousness for His name's sake. Yea, thou I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and staff they comfort me."
This has always been one of my favorite verses in Psalms. It reminds me that no matter what is going on in my life, and no matter how hard a situation may be, God is in control. We, as His children, have absolutely nothing to worry about. As long as we are living our lives for Him, we will want for nothing. Things may not be easy, and we may feel like we just aren't "living up to The Jone's", but our every need will be met.
I get caught up sometimes with feeling less of a person because nearly everyone I associate with has a nicer home than I do. I honestly do not know of anyone my age who lives in a home older than 15 years old. All my friends and acquaintances live in these newer homes, excellent curb appeal, new furnishings, and decorated like you wouldn't believe. I often feel sad and embarrassed, to the point that I really just cant stand the thought of any of those people coming to my home.
However, we are truly blessed to even have a home to live in! We may not own it, but it is a roof over our heads and meets our immediate needs! It really could be so much worse, and for that I am thankful!
I think we often forget just how blessed we are! We may not have what others have. We may not get the things we want to fill up our lives to appear like a pretty little package on the outside. But, I know in my heart that no matter how our home may appear to others, its filled with love, God's love, and that's all that matters.
I'd much rather have our humble home, and live a righteous life, than have a fancy home that fills our life with pride.
In the end, it doesn't matter what you have as long as you've got what you need. Be thankful for what the Lord has given you. Why? Because there's always someone who has less than you.
Monday, February 4, 2013
Be Healthy
I, like many women, have struggled with my weight nearly all my life. Even in high school I was a little more meaty than the other girls. I wasn't over weight, just more filled out. Part of that was due to my dance background. Then, and even some now that I've retained, a good bit of my weight was due to musle mass because I was a dancer. My body was pretty firm, not mushy, but I still looked like I was carrying a little more weight because of it. Even now, people cannot believe how much I actually weigh, because I don't look like I weigh that much. When they find out how much I weigh they always comment "Well, you sure to carry yourself well, because you would never know you weigh that much!"
But now, after having three children, having to undergo a complete hysterectomy after my third, and just not being able to exercise due to my illness, I have gained so much weight and it was a month ago that I realized that I was gaining weight again when I noticed fat rolls starting to form on my lower back and belly. I've never been happy with my body, but to realize that my weight was spinning out of control I had to do SOMETHING.
I have several friends who started on Thinogenics, and every time I saw them they looked thinner. To find out that they only take one pill a day, only change their meals a little bit, and the key is water, and they weren't even exercising.... I knew I had to try it!
Well, I started Thinogenics last Wednesday, and I've already lost 10 lbs! I even forgot to take it for 2 days this week, and pigged out at my daughters birthday party Saturday night!
I know that God made us all unique, and we should be proud of our bodies. But, I do believe that God did not intend for us to let our bodies get out of control with extra weight on our bodies. There are places in the bible that tell us that over eating is actually as sin. I know that there are certain people who have health issues that make them keep a lot of extra weight on their bodies, regardless of what they eat, but He did not intend on us eating all of these foods with fillers, and for it to be processed with un-natural additives, that make us keep all this extra fat on our bodies.
A few years ago I tried a diet of eating only natural food. Nothing carbonated. No processed foods. Very low sugars. I mainly lived on veggies, flavored water, fruit, and one piece of meat, and one sugary thing a day. I ate all day, but only those things. I lost 20lbs in about a month and a half! That just goes to show you that all these foods we eat that are "easy" and "fast" are foods that make us gain weight.
However, there came a day where I just HAD to eat something bad for me. That ONE McDonalds meal and Coke did me in! Once I reintroduced myself to it, my body started craving it and little by little I started cheating more and more until I was eating all that junk all over again. Then, my illness set it, and I've been gaining weight ever since!
I say all this to remind you to eat healthy, stop eating junk, keep yourself in check! I'm not saying you need to start Thinogenics, I'm just saying that we've got to remind ourselves that we are killing ourselves with all this processed and unnatural food we consume. It's not just the weight, it's the health issues that come from the weight and fatty foods we consume. Before all these processed foods came out, people in America were typically 4 sizes smaller than the majority of Americans today. That should be a wake up call to all of us.
So, from now on, I'm committing myself to eating more healthy. Even if I go off the Thinogenics, I'm going to stop eating junk, processed foods, sodas, and sugars that are not good for me. I urge you to take the same initiative. I promise you will lose those extra pounds and feel so much better!
I know today's post isn't all that inspirational, but it's what's on my mind right now. If anything, I hope it just helps remind you to put that donut down and grab some broccoli! Put down that Coke or Sweet Tea, and add some Crystal Lite flavor drops (with no aspartame) to a bottle of water! :)
But now, after having three children, having to undergo a complete hysterectomy after my third, and just not being able to exercise due to my illness, I have gained so much weight and it was a month ago that I realized that I was gaining weight again when I noticed fat rolls starting to form on my lower back and belly. I've never been happy with my body, but to realize that my weight was spinning out of control I had to do SOMETHING.
I have several friends who started on Thinogenics, and every time I saw them they looked thinner. To find out that they only take one pill a day, only change their meals a little bit, and the key is water, and they weren't even exercising.... I knew I had to try it!
Well, I started Thinogenics last Wednesday, and I've already lost 10 lbs! I even forgot to take it for 2 days this week, and pigged out at my daughters birthday party Saturday night!
I know that God made us all unique, and we should be proud of our bodies. But, I do believe that God did not intend for us to let our bodies get out of control with extra weight on our bodies. There are places in the bible that tell us that over eating is actually as sin. I know that there are certain people who have health issues that make them keep a lot of extra weight on their bodies, regardless of what they eat, but He did not intend on us eating all of these foods with fillers, and for it to be processed with un-natural additives, that make us keep all this extra fat on our bodies.
A few years ago I tried a diet of eating only natural food. Nothing carbonated. No processed foods. Very low sugars. I mainly lived on veggies, flavored water, fruit, and one piece of meat, and one sugary thing a day. I ate all day, but only those things. I lost 20lbs in about a month and a half! That just goes to show you that all these foods we eat that are "easy" and "fast" are foods that make us gain weight.
However, there came a day where I just HAD to eat something bad for me. That ONE McDonalds meal and Coke did me in! Once I reintroduced myself to it, my body started craving it and little by little I started cheating more and more until I was eating all that junk all over again. Then, my illness set it, and I've been gaining weight ever since!
I say all this to remind you to eat healthy, stop eating junk, keep yourself in check! I'm not saying you need to start Thinogenics, I'm just saying that we've got to remind ourselves that we are killing ourselves with all this processed and unnatural food we consume. It's not just the weight, it's the health issues that come from the weight and fatty foods we consume. Before all these processed foods came out, people in America were typically 4 sizes smaller than the majority of Americans today. That should be a wake up call to all of us.
So, from now on, I'm committing myself to eating more healthy. Even if I go off the Thinogenics, I'm going to stop eating junk, processed foods, sodas, and sugars that are not good for me. I urge you to take the same initiative. I promise you will lose those extra pounds and feel so much better!
I know today's post isn't all that inspirational, but it's what's on my mind right now. If anything, I hope it just helps remind you to put that donut down and grab some broccoli! Put down that Coke or Sweet Tea, and add some Crystal Lite flavor drops (with no aspartame) to a bottle of water! :)
Friday, February 1, 2013
AMAZING thing called SPACE
My Son's third grade class took a trip to the Space And Rocket Center yesterday. I've always been interested in space, and all the wonders that are out there we know nothing about. But, I was in complete awe at the movie we watched about the Hubble Space Telescope.
First, we walked into this huge theatre, like no theatre I've ever seen. The seats were so steep, that when we reached our seats I honestly felt like I was going to pass out. The room was a big oval which actually made me nauseated because it was so disorienting. I couldn't breath. I had to get out of there!
However, when they movie started I couldn't take my eyes off of the screen! Not that you could if you wanted to, because the screen was so ginormous that it almost felt like you were watching it in 3D.
The images that were coming across that screen were as if you were literally flying through space. The Hubble telescope is an AMAZING invention!
I've always imagined that when I die that God would grant me the wish of flying through space and seeing all of his creation on the way to where He is in Heaven. This experience was just like this! It took everything I am to not stand up in that theatre, as scared as I was, and just spread my arms wide like I'm flying! Looking at the pictures you can see online is NOTHING compared to the experience of actually flying through the air with the Hubble Telescope actually going INTO the amazing stars, other galaxies, and other AWESOME stuff I don't even know the names of!
If you ever go to the Space and Rocket Center, you've GOT to go see that movie and experience it.
If you don't already believe in God, then you will after seeing this movie. There just is no way you can't after taking in all that breathtaking beauty that is out there!
I started out breathless from the disorientation from the room, to being completely breathless from observing all of God's creation! The things He has created just brought tears to my eyes! Words cannot even begin to explain what it looks like out there!
I would encourage you to do a web search for Hubble Space Telescope Images. It is simply mind-blowing to see the pictures of what this telescope has captured! The picture above is one of those, out of thousands, that it has seen!
MIND BLOWING!
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