Category Archives: God

by | May 14, 2013 · 6:18 am

Are You Prayin’ About It?

Last night I was lying in bed thinking about a couple of things.  This was sMaLL stuff–you know–like how I was going to get everything done this week, if I had enough activities planned for the kids this summer, and if I was going to get the stain out of those tan pants :-/

All of a sudden, “Are you praying about it?” popped in my head.  For a second I pushed the thought away because I thought it was silly to pray about such minor things.  But then I remembered how Jesus wants us to talk to Him, no matter how great or small the worry may be.

praying hands

Are you worried about something?  Fretting over, what to most people, may seem like a silly little thing?  If it is a worry in your heart, then Jesus isn’t laughing.  Talk to Him.  Share your concerns and allow Him to CaRRy your load.  I am sure even He wouldn’t mind carrying a small load every once in a while :)

May Peace Be With You,

Lara

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by | February 15, 2013 · 8:14 am

A Simple Solution for a Chaotic Life

One of the best things I learned as a first year teacher was, when I got overwhelmed, to take a step back and try to SIMPLIFY the situation.  I am especially grateful that I figured it out before I had kids because I can’t imagine my life without it!

Are you overwhelmed about house projects?  Starting your own business?  The rhythm of your family life or how your child is doing in school?  Maybe it is your cooking skills or the thought of your daily workload as a mother or in your career?  We are usually so busy trying to keep our heads above water and control every situation that we can’t see the obvious solution:

SIMPLIFY THAT AREA OF YOUR LIFE.

How do you do that?  Take a step back and prioritize what is truly important about each specific situation.  If you are stressed about your house being out of order, maybe you should decide on what room is most important and ONLY focus on that.  If you don’t, you get so overwhelmed about trying to do it all, which only discourages you from even starting!

If your kids are having trouble in school, maybe instead of nagging them constantly you should set really small, achievable goals so you can praise them for something they are doing right.  I understand that it will feel like their progress is going at a snail’s pace, but focusing on the small successes will remove the tension.  And we all know it is easier to be motivated as a kid if you are getting praised and not yelled at, right?

I don’t write this because I have it all figured out.  In fact, consider this post as an entry to my journal, reminding me that I need to re-evaluate some areas in my life and toss the “all-or-nothing” mindset out of the window.

That being said, this post probably comes at a good time now that Lent is here.  If you want to enrich your spiritual life over the next 40 days, try to think of a small and siMpLe thing you can do each day to spend time with God.  Mine is as simple as having Christian music on throughout the day.  Whatever it is, just remember….

LeSs is MoRe!

Lara

P.S. And because I am “simplifiying” the fact that I wanted to post something, I am NOT including a picture.  If that is what it took for me to sit down and write, I still think it is bettering than doing nothing at all!

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by | January 29, 2013 · 8:50 am

A Quick Reminder…

I was reading from My Jesus Calling devotional and knew if this spoke to me today, it would probably speak to at least one of you…

Read this as if it was Jesus speaking this to you:

“Give up the illusion that you deserve a problem-free life.  Part of you is still hungering for the resolution of all difficulties.  This is a false hope!  As I told My disciples, in the world you will have trouble.  Link your hope not to problem solving in this life but to the promise of an eternity of problem-free life in heaven.  Instead of seeking perfection in this fallen world, pour you energy into seeking me:  the Perfect One.

It is possible to enjoy Me and glorify Me in the midst of adverse circumstances.  In fact, My Light shines most brightly through believers who trust Me in the dark.  That kind of trust is supernatural: a production of My indwelling Spirit.  When things seem all wrong, trust Me anyway.  I am much less interested in right circumstances than in right responses to whatever comes your way.”

Boy, did I need this reminder!  And don’t you love the excitement in “the promise of an eternity of problem-free life”?  Won’t that wonderful!!

SOURCE

SOURCE

If you are down in the dumps or caught up in trying to perfect your life, just stop.  Take a deep breath, and read the words above one more time.  It gives you an immediate reality check and slight kick in the fanny sense of relief, doesn’t it?!  God wants you to LET GO, sister!!

For another post I had written about getting through the trials of life, read:  Making the Best of Human Life

Lara

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by | January 25, 2013 · 6:21 am

Remembering Grandma

Last week I lost the last of my four grandparents.  My grandma was 91 years old and had been living in a nursing home suffering from Alzheimer’s for the past 10 years.  She lost her ability to speak about 5 years ago and hasn’t recognized any of us in over 5 years.  Over the years it has been devastating to watch what this disease has done to the woman who taught me how to sew, bake, cook, and craft.

BeFunky_grandma

As I sat at the funeral home I kept starring at my grandmother’s hands holding the rosary and then all of the beautiful flowers that surrounded her from our family.  Those hands had taught me so much and I immediately began to think about what I could do with all of those flowers.  My grandmother would have hated to see all those flowers thrown away which is what typically happens with funeral arrangements so I asked the funeral director if I could take the arrangement home with me.  Now I have a little piece of my grandmother watching over my family…I know she would be proud!

grandma2

grandma

~Robyn (Jersey Girl)

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by | December 12, 2012 · 5:00 am

Day 11 – Advent Calendar

Advent Day #11 – Go Christmas caroling to a neighbor or a shut-in.

{You may choose to simplify the process big-time and do something as easy as  pick one person a day from now ’til Christmas and pray for them.  It doesn’t need to be time-consuming, stressful, or cost you anything.  Do what works for you and enjoy the season with the ones you love!!}

Alternative Activity:  Ask God how you can make the world a better place.  (Then do what He tells you to do!)

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by | December 11, 2012 · 5:00 am

Day 10 – Advent Calendar

Advent Day #10 – Do something nice for a stranger such as go through a drive thru and pay for the person behind you, give a generous tip, or let them have the better parking spot.

{You may choose to simplify the process big-time and do something as easy as  pick one person a day from now ’til Christmas and pray for them.  It doesn’t need to be time-consuming, stressful, or cost you anything.  Do what works for you and enjoy the season with the ones you love!!}

Alternate Activity:  Give God something you have been denying Him such as obedience or trust.

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by | December 7, 2012 · 5:00 am

Day 6 – Advent Calendar

Advent Day #6 – Sleep by the Christmas Tree.

{You may choose to simplify the process big-time and do something as easy as  pick one person a day from now to Christmas and pray for them.  It doesn’t need to be time-consuming, stressful, or cost you anything.  Do what works for you and enjoy the season with the ones you love!!}

Alternate Activity: Pray for God’s blessing on someone who has wronged you. 

“But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.”  Luke 6:27-29

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by | December 6, 2012 · 5:00 am

Day 5 – Advent Calendar

Advent Day #5 – Relive a tradition with your kids (if you have any) that you did when you were a kid OR start a new Christmas tradition that brings happiness and joy.

{You may choose to simplify the process big-time and do something as easy as  pick one person a day from now ’til Christmas and pray for them.  It doesn’t need to be time-consuming, stressful, or cost you anything.  Do what works for you and enjoy the season with the ones you love!!}

Alternate Activity:  Be encouraged by the following video entitled, “God’s Got You Covered”!

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by | December 3, 2012 · 5:00 am

Day 2 – Advent Calendar

Advent Day #2 – Shop for a new toy to donate to a charitable organization.

{You may choose to simplify the process big-time and do something as easy as  pick one person a day from now ’til Christmas and pray for them.  It doesn’t need to be time-consuming, stressful, or cost you anything.  Do what works for you and enjoy the season with the ones you love!!}

Alternate Activity:  Prepare your heart in a spirit of penitence by reading Psalm 51.

Psalm 51

For the director of music. A psalm of David. When the prophet Nathan came to him after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba.

1 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.  3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. 4 Against you, you only, have I sinned  and done what is evil in your sight; so you are right in your verdict and justified when you judge. 5 Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me. 6 Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb;  you taught me wisdom in that secret place.  7 Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. 8 Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice. 9 Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity.  10 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. 11 Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.  13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways, so that sinners will turn back to you. 14 Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God, you who are God my Savior, and my tongue will sing of your righteousness. 15 Open my lips, Lord, and my mouth will declare your praise. 16 You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. 17 My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise.  18 May it please you to prosper Zion, to build up the walls of Jerusalem. 19 Then you will delight in the sacrifices of the righteous, in burnt offerings offered whole; then bulls will be offered on your altar.

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by | December 2, 2012 · 5:00 am

Our Twist On the Advent Calendar

Source: Stephencuyos.com

Source: Stephencuyos.com

One tradition our families have begun includes that of celebrating the arrival of Christmas with an Advent Calendar.  And although we love the excitement and anticipation that an Advent Calendar can bring, last year we tired of making the focus on giving our kids more stuff, even if it was as simple as a small piece of candy.

So we put our heads together and decided this year we wanted to do something different.  We wanted to focus on what Christmas is really about – giving and reflecting on the true meaning of this incredible holiday.

As I began to prepare for this post I did a little research on what Advent really means.  It turns out that I had a lot to learn about this subject from my Catholic friends (I know Catholics aren’t the only one who celebrate Advent.  They were just the ones I got my info from so I’m giving them credit.)

According to Catholicism.about.com and other sites, Advent really means “little lent” and should be a time of increased prayer, fasting (for some), good deeds, and penitence.  In layman’s terms it is a time for us to take stock of our lives.  To take a look inside and see if our heart is right with God.   As we approach Christmas with this attitude of humbling ourself it brings us peace and joy as well as a heightened sense of anticipation.

In the spirit of Advent, this year our Advent Calendar is going to consist of doing kind things for others and cherishing the moments we have with family and friends.  But most importantly it will consist of us preparing our hearts for Immanuel – God with us.

Each day from now ’til Christmas we will share with you ideas you can use to celebrate this season using the Advent Calendar.  Maybe you already have an Advent Calendar tradition.  Then go with it.  Or maybe you are looking for new ideas.  Hopefully you will find some here.  Our biggest piece of advice is to do what works for you and your family.  That may mean doing a handful of activities on the weekend when your family has more time to spend together and then skipping days during the week when your schedule is on overload.

You may choose to simplify the process big-time and do something as easy as  pick one person a day from now ’til Christmas and pray for them.  It doesn’t need to be time-consuming, stressful, or cost you anything.  Do what works for you and enjoy the season with the ones you love!!

If there are things your family does or if you have an idea to share, please do so!  We may even use your idea for one of our days!!

So, let’s get started!!

DaY 1 AdvEnT:  Send someone a card who has lost a loved one this year letting them know you are thinking about them/praying for them.

Happy Advent!!

:)Robynn

P.S.  If you don’t have an Advent Calendar, you may want to make one.  Choose one of the following or find one to make on www.pinterest.com by typing “Advent Calendar” in the search box.

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