Growing up my parents were the ones that would change the church marquee sign, often times overly cheesy and judgemental words covered the sign. As a teenager I wondered if they honestly thought anyone would read that and who are they trying to reach. I now tend to ignore church marquee signs, which is probably why I miss that the church down the road is hosting Upward sports or any other special events.
A few weeks ago I past the church and read Be a fountain, not a drain. Which are you? I am sure those words have been spoken many times before; however, this time I thought there’s a lesson in those words. So I really began thinking about that. You know those times when you can’t get a song out of your head? The words Am I a fountain or am I a drain weighed on me.
Fountains are refreshing, life-giving, faithful. People make wishes in fountains; adults sit by them and children play in them. People’s nerves are calmed and their souls are soothed just by being near fountains.
Not so with drains.
Drains sap your strength and make you uncomfortable. Do you remember feeling scared when you swam over pool drains when you were little? (Who am I kidding? Pool drains still freak me out a little.) Drains instill anxiety and dread. Everyone knows drains are awful.
I don’t think any of us are purely one or the other. I think we practice those dispositions.
When I’m acting like a drain, I am… Critical, Impatient, Rude, Self-Serving, Insensitive, Angry, Out of Control
When I’m acting like a fountain, I am… Encouraging, Patient, Nice, Considerate, Thoughtful, Joyful. Self-controlled
No wonder fountains are happy; that’s a great list! I want to be a fountain!
Be a welcomed sight to your family and friends and even perfect strangers . Be refreshing to others! Add to their lives by your smile, your words and especially your behavior. Like the fountain, be a continual source of happy, positive feelings. Even when you are facing something challenging, how you handle that challenge can have lasting impact on those around you. Engage their help as needed, share your feelings of fear or discomfort, but do not be a drain. Be a fountain, an inspiration to others in your honesty and your ability to ask for support when needed, and most important by how you manage through the challenge. Share your love of life, your humor, and educate others by your experiences. As you walk away, may others be glad they spent time with you because you are a source of life to them, much like the fountains centuries ago.
May others feel refreshed by your presence.
Fountain. Drain. Which one will you choose to be?
Jan 10, 2014
Funny things boys say.
This year I want to be better at documenting those moments that make us laugh.
Owen waking today said "Mom, aliens are real"
That certainly leaves me curious what he was dreaming about
Carter: "Mom why Jesus not help man on roof?"
M: "What man on the roof?
C: "the man that fell from roof?
M: "I don't know what man you are talking about?
C: "The man on the Kindle." (obviously very aggravated that I couldn't read his mind)
M: "OH Jesus did help him. He told him to pick up his mat and he was healed"
C: "Ummmmmmmm. I better watched that Bible thing again."
Thanks YouVersion for the Bible app for kids. Our boys have absolutely loved it. Its amazing what their little minds soak in.
Owen waking today said "Mom, aliens are real"
That certainly leaves me curious what he was dreaming about
Carter: "Mom why Jesus not help man on roof?"
M: "What man on the roof?
C: "the man that fell from roof?
M: "I don't know what man you are talking about?
C: "The man on the Kindle." (obviously very aggravated that I couldn't read his mind)
M: "OH Jesus did help him. He told him to pick up his mat and he was healed"
C: "Ummmmmmmm. I better watched that Bible thing again."
Thanks YouVersion for the Bible app for kids. Our boys have absolutely loved it. Its amazing what their little minds soak in.
Jan 4, 2014
My word for 2014
Happy New Year!
What's your "goal" for 2014? Do you have a quote, phrase, picture or simple word that has been tapping at your heartstrings lately that you want to try and implement this upcoming year?
I love the beginning of a New Year! I know each day God’s mercies are new, but something about a new year brings a big new hope to my heart. For many years, I made New Year’s Resolutions, but I could never keep them. Oh, I succeeded for a few months, but then it was over. I felt worse about myself than I did before the year began because I had failed. So last year I decided not to make a New Years resolution and to focus on a word, verse or phrase.
Last year my focus was to "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." Psalm 46:10. I tend to be a person that prefers everything in order. I dislike unknowns, so for me letting go, being still and remembering that He is God was and still is a difficult challenge for me.
This year my focus is on BALANCE. Life is filled with storms and twisters – overcrowded schedules, impossible demands, unrealistic expectations, emotional bankruptcy, physical exhaustion and personality conflicts. Chaos often reigns, spinning emotions out of control. Frustration, confusion, stress, and darkness are all too familiar companions. During those turbulent times, my first reaction is to run and hide until the storm passes over, but I have come to two realizations; first, there will always be another storm and second, what I must do is learn how to prepare for storms before they hit. Storm preparation begins with a balanced life.
I encourage you to join with me and set aside time this week to spend in solitude. Examine your life in the light of balance. What priorities are obvious? What areas are out of balance? How has this imbalance affected your life? What changes do you need to make in order to live a balanced life of purpose in 2014? How can we help each other maintain a balanced life?
What's your "goal" for 2014? Do you have a quote, phrase, picture or simple word that has been tapping at your heartstrings lately that you want to try and implement this upcoming year?
I love the beginning of a New Year! I know each day God’s mercies are new, but something about a new year brings a big new hope to my heart. For many years, I made New Year’s Resolutions, but I could never keep them. Oh, I succeeded for a few months, but then it was over. I felt worse about myself than I did before the year began because I had failed. So last year I decided not to make a New Years resolution and to focus on a word, verse or phrase.
Last year my focus was to "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." Psalm 46:10. I tend to be a person that prefers everything in order. I dislike unknowns, so for me letting go, being still and remembering that He is God was and still is a difficult challenge for me.
This year my focus is on BALANCE. Life is filled with storms and twisters – overcrowded schedules, impossible demands, unrealistic expectations, emotional bankruptcy, physical exhaustion and personality conflicts. Chaos often reigns, spinning emotions out of control. Frustration, confusion, stress, and darkness are all too familiar companions. During those turbulent times, my first reaction is to run and hide until the storm passes over, but I have come to two realizations; first, there will always be another storm and second, what I must do is learn how to prepare for storms before they hit. Storm preparation begins with a balanced life.
I encourage you to join with me and set aside time this week to spend in solitude. Examine your life in the light of balance. What priorities are obvious? What areas are out of balance? How has this imbalance affected your life? What changes do you need to make in order to live a balanced life of purpose in 2014? How can we help each other maintain a balanced life?
Jan 2, 2014
Happy New Year! Happy 2014
I am in love with 2014 already.
As I turn my calendar to a fresh new page, I am grateful for new beginnings, second chances, and an opportunity to evaluate my life in 2013 and intentionally focus on making changes in 2014.
One of my new years goals is to find more rest in the midst of a busy world and to learn to balance life between, work, family, myself and rest.
Living well in this modern world is a challenge. The pace of life, along with the new front porch of social media, has changed the landscape of our lives. Women have been told for far too long that being on the go and accumulating more things will make their lives full. As a result, we grasp for the wrong things in life and come up empty.
As moms, wives, homemakers, co-workers, sisters, friends and daughters – we women can grow weary trying to do it all.
But then I go to God’s word and open it and there I find rest as I gulp down a huge glass of living water –and it is through the principles of God’s word that I learn to be a woman — who is living well. And there I find rest like no other worldly thing could offer.
But God has given us principles for our walk with Him, our marriages, our parenting and our homemaking that we all can follow in our own unique way.
Are you searching for more rest within the four walls of your home? Are you wondering what principles you could be applying from God’s word that would bring more joy? Do you find it hard to hear God’s voice amongst the clamor of this world?
The voice of the Lord is powerful – he speaks as the King of Kings! He is worthy of us intentionally blocking out the worlds noise and tuning into his voice. He loves us and longs to speak to us.
As I turn my calendar to a fresh new page, I am grateful for new beginnings, second chances, and an opportunity to evaluate my life in 2013 and intentionally focus on making changes in 2014.
One of my new years goals is to find more rest in the midst of a busy world and to learn to balance life between, work, family, myself and rest.
Living well in this modern world is a challenge. The pace of life, along with the new front porch of social media, has changed the landscape of our lives. Women have been told for far too long that being on the go and accumulating more things will make their lives full. As a result, we grasp for the wrong things in life and come up empty.
As moms, wives, homemakers, co-workers, sisters, friends and daughters – we women can grow weary trying to do it all.
Jesus says “Come to me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest.” ~Matthew 11:28Sometimes when I click around on the blog-o-sphere or on pinterest and twitter and facebook and instagram –I start to feel like my ideals and expectations for my family life rise –then reality hits and it all comes crashing down. Life is not pinterest pretty. It is hard and sweet and good and messy and funny and sad and just a big mixed bag!
But then I go to God’s word and open it and there I find rest as I gulp down a huge glass of living water –and it is through the principles of God’s word that I learn to be a woman — who is living well. And there I find rest like no other worldly thing could offer.
God did not make us to be cookie-cutter women. We are not replicas of each other. We all have different husbands and different children and different circumstances and different talents and different trials that we are in.I believe a strong Godly home can look 1,000 different ways because God made us each unique.
But God has given us principles for our walk with Him, our marriages, our parenting and our homemaking that we all can follow in our own unique way.
Are you searching for more rest within the four walls of your home? Are you wondering what principles you could be applying from God’s word that would bring more joy? Do you find it hard to hear God’s voice amongst the clamor of this world?
The voice of the Lord is powerful – he speaks as the King of Kings! He is worthy of us intentionally blocking out the worlds noise and tuning into his voice. He loves us and longs to speak to us.
Jan 1, 2014
A New Me.
So this year I am going to stop doing this…
This year I am going to start doing this…
Sound familiar? The new year begins and along with it comes those resolutions. And how long do they really last? Weeks… maybe a couple of months? I don’t know about you, but those resolutions often lead to disappointment for me. You end up feeling like you didn’t have strong enough willpower. Like you didn’t want it bad enough or you didn’t try hard enough. Like you failed.
What a big disappointment that is! Who wants that in their life? None of us need that.
But the good news… the amazing news… you don’t have to feel that disappointment!
His loving kindness never fails. His love never ends. His mercies are new each and every day, not just the beginning of the year! There is so much hope in that. You don’t need a January 1st on the calendar for a fresh start. We can have that fresh, new start any day of the year. We can have that new beginning every day of the year! Refreshing, don’t you think?
Christ came to give us hope. Fresh hope.
Each day. Every day.
This year I am going to start doing this…
Sound familiar? The new year begins and along with it comes those resolutions. And how long do they really last? Weeks… maybe a couple of months? I don’t know about you, but those resolutions often lead to disappointment for me. You end up feeling like you didn’t have strong enough willpower. Like you didn’t want it bad enough or you didn’t try hard enough. Like you failed.
What a big disappointment that is! Who wants that in their life? None of us need that.
But the good news… the amazing news… you don’t have to feel that disappointment!
His loving kindness never fails. His love never ends. His mercies are new each and every day, not just the beginning of the year! There is so much hope in that. You don’t need a January 1st on the calendar for a fresh start. We can have that fresh, new start any day of the year. We can have that new beginning every day of the year! Refreshing, don’t you think?
Christ came to give us hope. Fresh hope.
Each day. Every day.
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