I have thought a lot about the subject of modesty. I have read articles, books, and blogs on the subject of modesty. I have considered, reconsidered, and re-reconsidered how and what I think about this subject. It can actually be quite complicated. However, for Christian women at least, I think there should definitely be some standards we all adhere to. Other areas seem to be more debatable and self-determinable.
One of the areas I think we should all agree on is being properly covered, and quite modestly attired while in church or church-related activities. Scripture actually addresses this: " In like manner also,
that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and
sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works."
Women especially should take care to have everything covered, including that ever-so-popular top of the breast and space in between. Sexy, tight jeans or pants that perfectly showcase our shapely derriers and tight, short little dresses or skirts can distract the men behind us, even causing them to lust, and that is why scripture commands us to be modest in church.
I personally know the struggles men can have in church, because I have a husband who has conversed with me on the subject and a teenage son in the throes of puberty. My son, especially, has shared some things that have caused his conscience grief while in church. Men can't all sit on the front row, so that there is nothing in front of them that their eyes can see. That is why we must be aware of their temptations, and be respectful with our actions.
We should care about them, instead of the careless attitude I have oft heard repeated that it isn't our fault what sexual things men think of us; that it is all their responsibility. It is their responsibility what they do with the thoughts created by what they see. But we shouldn't be creating those thoughts for them to have to fight in church. We should all take care to be modest, so the guys can focus on God.
Even if it isn't normally the way we dress, I think we should buy clothing that is quite modest (it can still be cute!) for church. If we don't care about this, we are saying that our brothers in Christ are unimportant, and also that it doesn't matter what the Bible says on the subject. I really don't think there should be a lot of room for argument on this one. Our focus as we prepare for church shouldn't be how sexy, cute, or whatever we can look. I think most of us know that men are visually driven, and it isn't kind to those who are actually trying to walk in obedience in that area to tempt them. I sure don't want to be a stumbling block to someone in church.
But what about when we are not in church? What about when we are out running errands, at the office, or out on a date? Should there be a standard of modesty at all for these times? What if our husbands prefer us to dress less modestly for dates? Now that's a GOOD question, and one that we should answer for ourselves with prayer and consideration, and from talking with our spouses.
I don't think there is one right answer to those questions, but I am going to attempt to convey my current conclusions on the subject, along with some of my past thoughts. I have a husband who likes me to dress more sexily on dates than I dress normally. By sexily, I mean my dress or skirt is shorter than I wear when I am out without him (if my dress is not long, I always wear leggings or something underneath), but not as short as some people seem to wear on a regular basis. I do it to please my man, and it is what he prefers.
All men have something that they naturally find attractive and sexy. We are wise to try to do those things to the best of our abilities. If my husband is naturally attracted to certain things, and if I don't do them,
then I increase the probability that someone else doing those things is
going to catch his eye. I look at it as another form of putting a hedge
around my marriage, and a way of honoring my husband's wishes. This
works for me, and my conscience is clear when I do it.
I have thought a lot about this, and I do have lines I won't cross even for a date (I don't like my breasts showing at all, and I want to be able to sit down and get up without flashing everybody). I think as Christian women we should have minimum standards of modesty, regardless of what situation we are in. We should be mindful of the stumbling block we can be to those around us, and we should protect our reputations and our witness when we are out and about, whether at work or play. Especially when our spouses aren't with us, I think we should err on the side of keeping stuff well covered. We can be stylish and attractive without things being overly short or overly tight. It's not a matter of being ashamed of our figures, but a matter of showcasing them in an attractive, feminine, and modest manner, as opposed to inviting men to think of us sexually who aren't our spouse, or who aren't our future spouse (for those unmarried ladies).
A disclaimer I like to add when giving the "stumbling block" answer, is that no matter what we do, we are going to offend someone. I am fairly modest, but I may offend someone who is extremely modest, especially if I am on a date. I wear dresses and skirts a lot, but I do wear jeans out as well, which I know offends some who believe we should always be in skirts or dresses. We can't please everyone with everything that we do in our Christian walk, because there are always people who are more conservative, and sometimes more legalistic than we are. That is where prayer, and careful consideration with a modest and humble heart comes in.
One thing I don't think Christians have any business wearing are bikinis (unless in private with our spouses with no one else around). Basically, bra and panties made with outerwear material. I know it is commonly accepted, but I personally think people should rethink it. Check out this four minute video by a man who has given his thoughts on the subject. Who better to hear from than those who are most affected by it? There are companies who sell modest swimwear that are super cute, like this one and this one. (Not affiliate links, I just like their products.) I think this subject is worth a "rethink" and a willingness to be different from the acceptable undress of the culture.
I think that dresses and skirts are wonderfully feminine, and over the course of a year, I wear them more often than not, because I want to, and my husband prefers them, not because I have to. A skirt or dress can be just as, if not more than, immodest if not chosen with a modest heart. Like most things in our Christian walk, it comes down to the state of our heart. If our heart is modest, and our thinking modest, our dress will reflect that. If our husbands sometimes prefer a little more excitement in our dress, that can still be addressed with a modest heart, and agreement reached.
Our library contains a few books on modesty. Here are a couple of them:
The Beauty of Modesty
Secret Keeper (aimed at teens)
We can cultivate a heart of modesty even while trying to please our spouses. We can be lovely, attractive and well-dressed and still be modest. Modest does not equal frumpy. As Christians, there should be lines we won't cross with our wardrobes. In general, we should have higher standards than the world sets, and a willingness to swim against the tide.
Blessings,
Debbie, Home at Serenity Springs
Life as the mother of four children and four grandchildren. Homeschooling the two still at home. Things that interest me - reading, herbs and essential oils, gardening, natural chemical-free living, and continually learning how to be a better wife.
Monday, January 27, 2014
Thursday, January 23, 2014
When You Feel Like a Failure
Have you ever felt like a failure? I have. There have been times in my marriage and particularly in my parenting career that I berated myself from the time I got up in the morning until I lay down at night. A constant, silent barrage of self-inflicted insults about how horrible I was. True story.
Life isn't always happy, happy, happy, and children don't always reflect their good upbringing. They make sinful, painful choices, or indulge in selfish, ugly behavior that can truly make life a challenge for a time. I have been there, and it is no fun. I have wanted to quit parenting, and go hide away on a deserted island for the rest of my life. What I actually did was escape 7 miles up the road a couple of times a week to a small diner to have a greasy meal, read my book, and regroup. It helped. It was a blessing that we had an older teenager at home who could be in charge for an hour or so.
My family has a history of depression. My siblings have all suffered from it, and I am pretty sure both of my parents did as well, it just wasn't as obvious. I have been blessed in that I have never had to take medication for the blues, but I think this predisposition towards depression made the hard times even worse. If I didn't have my faith in God, I don't know how I would have survived intact.
I can feel the tug of depression off and on throughout the year, but unless life is particularly stressful, like it was during those times, I can usually resist its pull. I may have a day or two where I am unexplainably down in the dumps, but I have a natural zest for life that normally takes over after that.
Not during those really hard times though. That was months of turmoil. Daily negative interactions with a certain family member, even when I tried my best to make positive outcomes. Rebellion at its finest, and nothing seemed to be working. Constant prayer and supplication for a change of heart. Constant battle of wills. Months on end of this will shake just about anyone's confidence in their ability to do anything right.
As far as I was concerned, I was a total failure. It didn't matter that I had been teaching God's ways from the time they were babies. It didn't matter that we had a stable, (otherwise) happy home with two parents that adored each other. It didn't matter that I had given up any selfish ambition I might have had in life to stay home and raise my children. To my way of thinking, I was the worst of the worst, and I didn't know why God ever gave me children to raise just so I could screw it up.
Thankfully, as things improved and we began to see the light again, I began to see how ridiculous some of my thinking was, and how counterproductive to hate myself as much as I did. It is amazing how our thinking can be skewed when extreme stress is placed upon us. No parent, child or spouse is perfect, and I can be an unperfect parent with unperfect children without thinking anything worse.
I would like to encourage anyone who is feeling this way, or anyone who has felt this way in the past to see it for the lie it is, acknowledge and deal with actual mistakes made, and plug on doing the best you can. Whether it be times of trial in marriage or parenting, walk through with prayer to the One who can help until you can see the sunshine again.
I was never so glad to see the sunshine. Things have gotten steadily better since that time, and I can only thank God for answered prayers. Not that all my parenting trials are over, but that I learned a lesson about falling for the whispers that want to keep us from joy. I truly can't express what a relief it is to be on the other side of that trial. I think I'll do better through the next one, with God's help....
To protect the privacy of our family, I purposely didn't go into specifics about the trials or who they involved. My intent was to offer encouragement to those who might be experiencing similar trials.
Blessings,
Debbie, Home at Serenity Springs
Life isn't always happy, happy, happy, and children don't always reflect their good upbringing. They make sinful, painful choices, or indulge in selfish, ugly behavior that can truly make life a challenge for a time. I have been there, and it is no fun. I have wanted to quit parenting, and go hide away on a deserted island for the rest of my life. What I actually did was escape 7 miles up the road a couple of times a week to a small diner to have a greasy meal, read my book, and regroup. It helped. It was a blessing that we had an older teenager at home who could be in charge for an hour or so.
My family has a history of depression. My siblings have all suffered from it, and I am pretty sure both of my parents did as well, it just wasn't as obvious. I have been blessed in that I have never had to take medication for the blues, but I think this predisposition towards depression made the hard times even worse. If I didn't have my faith in God, I don't know how I would have survived intact.
I can feel the tug of depression off and on throughout the year, but unless life is particularly stressful, like it was during those times, I can usually resist its pull. I may have a day or two where I am unexplainably down in the dumps, but I have a natural zest for life that normally takes over after that.
Not during those really hard times though. That was months of turmoil. Daily negative interactions with a certain family member, even when I tried my best to make positive outcomes. Rebellion at its finest, and nothing seemed to be working. Constant prayer and supplication for a change of heart. Constant battle of wills. Months on end of this will shake just about anyone's confidence in their ability to do anything right.
As far as I was concerned, I was a total failure. It didn't matter that I had been teaching God's ways from the time they were babies. It didn't matter that we had a stable, (otherwise) happy home with two parents that adored each other. It didn't matter that I had given up any selfish ambition I might have had in life to stay home and raise my children. To my way of thinking, I was the worst of the worst, and I didn't know why God ever gave me children to raise just so I could screw it up.
Thankfully, as things improved and we began to see the light again, I began to see how ridiculous some of my thinking was, and how counterproductive to hate myself as much as I did. It is amazing how our thinking can be skewed when extreme stress is placed upon us. No parent, child or spouse is perfect, and I can be an unperfect parent with unperfect children without thinking anything worse.
I would like to encourage anyone who is feeling this way, or anyone who has felt this way in the past to see it for the lie it is, acknowledge and deal with actual mistakes made, and plug on doing the best you can. Whether it be times of trial in marriage or parenting, walk through with prayer to the One who can help until you can see the sunshine again.
I was never so glad to see the sunshine. Things have gotten steadily better since that time, and I can only thank God for answered prayers. Not that all my parenting trials are over, but that I learned a lesson about falling for the whispers that want to keep us from joy. I truly can't express what a relief it is to be on the other side of that trial. I think I'll do better through the next one, with God's help....
To protect the privacy of our family, I purposely didn't go into specifics about the trials or who they involved. My intent was to offer encouragement to those who might be experiencing similar trials.
Blessings,
Debbie, Home at Serenity Springs
Monday, January 20, 2014
Embracing your femininity: making men more masculine
Some ladies today seem to prefer emasculated men. Emasculate means to make weaker or less effective. Media loves to portray men as the weaker sex, as idiotic fools. The world is rampant with men who let the women in their lives trample all over them, manipulate them with sex or the lack thereof, or suffer through innumerable silent treatments or nagging sessions. Is this what God created man to be? Is this what God created women to be?
I believe God's original intent was for women to be quite feminine, and for men to be manly. I believe in God's way of the man being the leader of the family, and the woman respecting him as such. Does that mean all women have to look a certain way or be doormats, and all men have to be competent hunter/gatherers and tyrants? No...but there are certain characteristics that just about all manly men seem to possess (a blog for another day), and other characteristics that are often seen in feminine women.
I don't think God ever intended our society to be androgynous, unable to tell who is male and who is female. He would have created us that way if that were his intent. My thinking about this subject has (I think) improved over the years (I grew up in a matriarchal household), and I have thoughtfully considered my wise husband's words on what he finds attractive and feminine.
I think all Christian women should embrace the idea of femininity in their daily lives. I believe that by resisting it in any form, we are resisting God's best in our lives. He didn't make a mistake when he made us women. And regardless of what media tries to shove down our throats, and what society would dearly love us to believe, men and women are different. We are supposed to be different. If we act just like men, and do every single thing that men do, we are no longer different.
We can exude a feminine grace even as we play sports, garden, hunt, or whatever. I think our husbands glory in us when we do, and I know that it makes them feel more manly when they are around us.
Here are a few things I think we can do to improve or increase our feminine graces. These are in no way meant to insult anyone in any way, just an encouragement to embrace all that God wants us as women to be. I have been guilty of most of them in the past.
1. Unless your husband is the rare exception that just adores them, get rid of the sweat pants! Be a respecter of his opinion and ask him if he likes them or finds them attractive. Let him answer honestly without fear of reprisal. If he doesn't like them, why on earth would we want to wear them around him??? There are plenty of attractive, feminine lounging pants that are warm, cool, comfortable, soft - whatever you require. You could even go a step further and ask what colors he likes on you, and buy something in one of those colors. (*Disclaimer: I am well aware that this is not the way of the world. However, it does make for a much better, much more exciting marriage when we actually strive to please our mates. I can say this with confidence from experiencing the results, and I have also felt the consequences of not really caring)
2. Embrace polite behavior regarding bodily functions. A rootin', tootin', belching wife is not femininity at its finest. I know it can't be helped at times, but we don't have to be crude about it.
3. Realizing that there are times when we just don't feel well, take care with your appearance. Again, especially when in the presence of your husband, ask him how he likes you to dress. (I literally let my husband pick out what I wear on our dates. He's the one who is going to be looking at it the entire time.) Ask him how he prefers your hair. Ask if he likes you to wear make-up or not. Heels or not. Even those of us who hate super-high heels (like me) can manage a low heel, which really does make us look more girly.
There are a lot of attractive people out there, and we SHOULD as wives 100% care what our husbands find attractive and feminine, and attempt to do those things. I think of it as a hedge of protection I can place around my marriage. BE the woman he wants. Of course they are supposed to love us regardless, but don't you want him to desire you? Shouldn't we care if our husbands think we are frumpy?
4. Be wise in seeing that the attitudes that the world cultivates in women are not normally ones that God wants a Christian woman to embrace. *We are not supposed to be the bosses, ruling our homes and our husbands with an iron thumb. *We are not supposed to manipulate to get our way, and whine and complain when we don't. *Sex is not a reward for our husbands when they kow-tow to our will, and a punishment for when they don't. *We are not supposed to have a "me-first, it's a woman's world" attitude. These are lies that preclude the destruction of many marriages. And they aren't very feminine. And I can guarantee they don't make our men feel very manly.
5. Be a peacemaker, not an arguer or a complainer. I know women that never seem to be happy about anything. If you eat out with them, you can guarantee that they will find something to complain about, and normally end up being rude to the waitress at least once. And their poor husbands often don't do much that pleases them. I don't think most of us really desire to be the nagging wife like a dripping faucet that Proverbs warns against. Don't be a drip! We can almost always find good in situations to focus on, instead of letting the bad make us act unbecomingly. Excessive anger is definitely not feminine.
6. Don't have a "potty mouth". Oh my goodness, this is a big one. It is shocking to hear gutter language spew out of the mouths of "ladies". Our words are to be sprinkled with grace, and edifying. There is nothing edifying or gracious (or feminine) about profanity and crudeness. This includes speaking about things around mixed company that should remain in your bedroom. Cursing and crudity are among those things that "just about everybody" does, but we shouldn't.
I don't think every woman's femininity will come across the same. There are some women who practically float across the room when they walk. That will never be me. Like never. I am a type A personality with a fast walk by nature. If I concentrate, I can walk slower and more girly. I try to do this around my husband. But it doesn't come natural.
Our husbands are important. They aren't perfect, but nevertheless we should care about pleasing them. I think the vast majority of men prefer feminine women over androgyny. Ask your man what he likes and what he thinks is feminine. Ask him what you could do to better please him. Then try to do it. He will feel more masculine, and you will reap the rewards!
For a book on femininity, by an author we love, click HERE.
Blessings,
Debbie Home at Serenity Springs (My Facebook Page)
I believe God's original intent was for women to be quite feminine, and for men to be manly. I believe in God's way of the man being the leader of the family, and the woman respecting him as such. Does that mean all women have to look a certain way or be doormats, and all men have to be competent hunter/gatherers and tyrants? No...but there are certain characteristics that just about all manly men seem to possess (a blog for another day), and other characteristics that are often seen in feminine women.
I don't think God ever intended our society to be androgynous, unable to tell who is male and who is female. He would have created us that way if that were his intent. My thinking about this subject has (I think) improved over the years (I grew up in a matriarchal household), and I have thoughtfully considered my wise husband's words on what he finds attractive and feminine.
I think all Christian women should embrace the idea of femininity in their daily lives. I believe that by resisting it in any form, we are resisting God's best in our lives. He didn't make a mistake when he made us women. And regardless of what media tries to shove down our throats, and what society would dearly love us to believe, men and women are different. We are supposed to be different. If we act just like men, and do every single thing that men do, we are no longer different.
We can exude a feminine grace even as we play sports, garden, hunt, or whatever. I think our husbands glory in us when we do, and I know that it makes them feel more manly when they are around us.
Here are a few things I think we can do to improve or increase our feminine graces. These are in no way meant to insult anyone in any way, just an encouragement to embrace all that God wants us as women to be. I have been guilty of most of them in the past.
1. Unless your husband is the rare exception that just adores them, get rid of the sweat pants! Be a respecter of his opinion and ask him if he likes them or finds them attractive. Let him answer honestly without fear of reprisal. If he doesn't like them, why on earth would we want to wear them around him??? There are plenty of attractive, feminine lounging pants that are warm, cool, comfortable, soft - whatever you require. You could even go a step further and ask what colors he likes on you, and buy something in one of those colors. (*Disclaimer: I am well aware that this is not the way of the world. However, it does make for a much better, much more exciting marriage when we actually strive to please our mates. I can say this with confidence from experiencing the results, and I have also felt the consequences of not really caring)
2. Embrace polite behavior regarding bodily functions. A rootin', tootin', belching wife is not femininity at its finest. I know it can't be helped at times, but we don't have to be crude about it.
3. Realizing that there are times when we just don't feel well, take care with your appearance. Again, especially when in the presence of your husband, ask him how he likes you to dress. (I literally let my husband pick out what I wear on our dates. He's the one who is going to be looking at it the entire time.) Ask him how he prefers your hair. Ask if he likes you to wear make-up or not. Heels or not. Even those of us who hate super-high heels (like me) can manage a low heel, which really does make us look more girly.
There are a lot of attractive people out there, and we SHOULD as wives 100% care what our husbands find attractive and feminine, and attempt to do those things. I think of it as a hedge of protection I can place around my marriage. BE the woman he wants. Of course they are supposed to love us regardless, but don't you want him to desire you? Shouldn't we care if our husbands think we are frumpy?
4. Be wise in seeing that the attitudes that the world cultivates in women are not normally ones that God wants a Christian woman to embrace. *We are not supposed to be the bosses, ruling our homes and our husbands with an iron thumb. *We are not supposed to manipulate to get our way, and whine and complain when we don't. *Sex is not a reward for our husbands when they kow-tow to our will, and a punishment for when they don't. *We are not supposed to have a "me-first, it's a woman's world" attitude. These are lies that preclude the destruction of many marriages. And they aren't very feminine. And I can guarantee they don't make our men feel very manly.
5. Be a peacemaker, not an arguer or a complainer. I know women that never seem to be happy about anything. If you eat out with them, you can guarantee that they will find something to complain about, and normally end up being rude to the waitress at least once. And their poor husbands often don't do much that pleases them. I don't think most of us really desire to be the nagging wife like a dripping faucet that Proverbs warns against. Don't be a drip! We can almost always find good in situations to focus on, instead of letting the bad make us act unbecomingly. Excessive anger is definitely not feminine.
6. Don't have a "potty mouth". Oh my goodness, this is a big one. It is shocking to hear gutter language spew out of the mouths of "ladies". Our words are to be sprinkled with grace, and edifying. There is nothing edifying or gracious (or feminine) about profanity and crudeness. This includes speaking about things around mixed company that should remain in your bedroom. Cursing and crudity are among those things that "just about everybody" does, but we shouldn't.
I don't think every woman's femininity will come across the same. There are some women who practically float across the room when they walk. That will never be me. Like never. I am a type A personality with a fast walk by nature. If I concentrate, I can walk slower and more girly. I try to do this around my husband. But it doesn't come natural.
Our husbands are important. They aren't perfect, but nevertheless we should care about pleasing them. I think the vast majority of men prefer feminine women over androgyny. Ask your man what he likes and what he thinks is feminine. Ask him what you could do to better please him. Then try to do it. He will feel more masculine, and you will reap the rewards!
For a book on femininity, by an author we love, click HERE.
Blessings,
Debbie Home at Serenity Springs (My Facebook Page)
Thursday, January 16, 2014
Thoughts from a Recovering Coupon Addict
I was that person. You know, the one in front of you with 500 coupons that takes forever to check out, usually buying things I already had 40 of. Don't those people aggravate you to no end? Now that I'm not one of them anymore, they sometimes annoy me too! It also amuses me, because I am not the one who is making the cashier scowl so grumpily as she scans coupons for five minutes straight.
Here is how I became a coupon queen. When I first read the book Shop, Save and Share by Ellie Kay, it was like a thunderbolt of revelation struck me. Could I really clip coupons and shop rebates and get stuff for mere cents, or free? Why yes, yes I could. Very quickly, I mastered the art of couponing and rebating. My bathroom closet was full to overflowing with toothpaste, deodorant, soap, and the works. My food pantry was well-stocked with mustard, pickles, soups, cereals, and more. And that was after sharing with my mother and others as needs arose. My coupons, overflowing pantries, and I existed happily for several years. Then we started adopting a healthier lifestyle; then we moved WAY out in the country.
No longer was I a mile or two away from Wal-greens, Eckerd, Kroger, Food Lion, and Wal-Mart. It wasn't convenient to pick up coupons and flyers from my mom's house, or even to have a paper delivered way out to my house. My mother-in-law tried having a paper delivered when she still lived here, and most of the time she never even got one, so she cancelled it.
It didn't bother me much, because I had found that the lifestyle God was leading us to, and the things we were using and eating the most, didn't have coupons anyway. And that's where I currently exist. I will occasionally use a coupon if it is for something I buy anyway. Most of the time these days, I forget the coupon at home, so more often than not I don't use them. It doesn't make sense to expend so much time and effort on things that I don't even use anymore, going places I don't shop at anymore.
I'm a bargain-finder at heart, though, and I thrill when I find great deals on things we use, especially when we can stock up on things on sale or clearance. I will always love to yard sale, because it is a hobby that relaxes me, and also one that excites me when I find super deals. We have attended the World's Longest Yard Sale in Alabama for the past two years, and anticipate going again this year. Talk about feeding an addiction!! Fortunately, it is short-lived, and life resumes.
I'm relieved actually that I don't have to coupon. I don't have much time for it, and I don't particularly want to make time for it. There are things I never buy (like expensive steaks) because they are simply too expensive, and they aren't worth the cost in my opinion. There are health related things I buy that some people would never spend that much money on, but we have made well-researched decisions about the things we purchase regularly, like high quality coconut oil from Azure Standard. (This is not an affiliate link, I just love the quality of their products!)
Even though I will never be a mega-couponer again, I respect those who are and who do it conscientiously without being abusive and deceptive. Do you coupon, or do you plan to in the future?
Blessings,
Debbie, Home at Serenity Springs (my facebook page)
Here is how I became a coupon queen. When I first read the book Shop, Save and Share by Ellie Kay, it was like a thunderbolt of revelation struck me. Could I really clip coupons and shop rebates and get stuff for mere cents, or free? Why yes, yes I could. Very quickly, I mastered the art of couponing and rebating. My bathroom closet was full to overflowing with toothpaste, deodorant, soap, and the works. My food pantry was well-stocked with mustard, pickles, soups, cereals, and more. And that was after sharing with my mother and others as needs arose. My coupons, overflowing pantries, and I existed happily for several years. Then we started adopting a healthier lifestyle; then we moved WAY out in the country.
No longer was I a mile or two away from Wal-greens, Eckerd, Kroger, Food Lion, and Wal-Mart. It wasn't convenient to pick up coupons and flyers from my mom's house, or even to have a paper delivered way out to my house. My mother-in-law tried having a paper delivered when she still lived here, and most of the time she never even got one, so she cancelled it.
It didn't bother me much, because I had found that the lifestyle God was leading us to, and the things we were using and eating the most, didn't have coupons anyway. And that's where I currently exist. I will occasionally use a coupon if it is for something I buy anyway. Most of the time these days, I forget the coupon at home, so more often than not I don't use them. It doesn't make sense to expend so much time and effort on things that I don't even use anymore, going places I don't shop at anymore.
I'm a bargain-finder at heart, though, and I thrill when I find great deals on things we use, especially when we can stock up on things on sale or clearance. I will always love to yard sale, because it is a hobby that relaxes me, and also one that excites me when I find super deals. We have attended the World's Longest Yard Sale in Alabama for the past two years, and anticipate going again this year. Talk about feeding an addiction!! Fortunately, it is short-lived, and life resumes.
I'm relieved actually that I don't have to coupon. I don't have much time for it, and I don't particularly want to make time for it. There are things I never buy (like expensive steaks) because they are simply too expensive, and they aren't worth the cost in my opinion. There are health related things I buy that some people would never spend that much money on, but we have made well-researched decisions about the things we purchase regularly, like high quality coconut oil from Azure Standard. (This is not an affiliate link, I just love the quality of their products!)
Even though I will never be a mega-couponer again, I respect those who are and who do it conscientiously without being abusive and deceptive. Do you coupon, or do you plan to in the future?
Blessings,
Debbie, Home at Serenity Springs (my facebook page)
Monday, January 13, 2014
Hold On Loosely - The Teapot
I had never bought a teapot for myself before. After 42 years, I finally found one I really liked (this one on Amazon). So I ordered it. When it arrived here at Serenity Springs, I was very happy to have such a pretty teapot to make my homemade herbal tea mixes in. My teapot and I were very happy together for 5 days. Then tragedy struck.
This particular tragedy has been quite a common occurrence in the Newman house for 20+ years. Yes, this coincides with the time our first child was born. Along with the unending joy that children bring, came unending broken dishes, knick-knacks, van windows, and now, the beautiful knob on my lovely new teapot.
Her name is Amber. She is 15, and I love her bunches. She has many gifts, but gracefulness is unfortunately not one of them. Many items have fallen by the wayside by her hand, or foot. She claims that she only scooted my teapot over, and somehow the lid jumped off which broke the knob. The lid wasn't completely broken, just the center knob.
I must admit, I wasn't pleased. My pot was no longer flawless, and wasn't quite as pretty as before, with a big hole in the middle of the lid. At least it still had a lid, I consoled myself. That is, until a week later. The same aforementioned lovely daughter bumped a plastic tub into my teapot on the counter, and BAM! The lid was history. A million pieces. Bummer. At least I still have my teapot, I consoled myself. So far, that is.
There is no guarantee in this house that anything breakable will remain unbroken. In fact, the Newman Law of Glass is that if it can be broken, it probably will. Apparently, it is one of the thorns I have to endure. It is also the reason we buy our dishes at Goodwill now, and why I don't care, and in fact embrace, the truth that none of our plates match. If you only pay .99 for a plate, and you have no matching sets, you don't care if one gets broken.
See? No matches!
All of this to say I have learned to hold my possessions loosely. A lesson we all need to learn, and God used lots of broken items to reinforce the point to me. Maybe I needed it. My mother has a lot of nice things all over her house that need to be dusted and NOT BROKEN. That is what I grew up with, so I probably have a gene that has a tendency to enjoy things too much. I'm pretty sure that gene left the building crying several years ago, and that's okay.
This world is not the end of everything; the best is yet to come in Eternity. We can't take any of it with us, so it's best to learn to hold loosely to our "stuff" now. Personally, I have thoroughly enjoyed the journey of organizing, cleaning, reducing, giving stuff away, seeing just how little we can get along with. I hate clutter with a passion, and with five people in this small house, it can be very challenging to avoid it. We have done pretty well, though, and continue to sift through everything as needed. It is so freeing!! That's the best part.
Clutter is oppressive. Open, organized, uncluttered spaces feel like a breath of fresh air. It is marvelous, and I recommend it highly! Even the baby step of spending a few minutes at a time going through problem areas makes a huge difference. I like the tip that in going through your closet, if you wouldn't buy it at the store right now, get rid of it. Most of us have so many clothes and shoes, we can't even get to everything to see what we have, much less ever wear all of it.
Hold loosely; love people, not things. It's a good lesson. As for my teapot, my husband said that someday in the not too distant future he would buy me another one and the wrecking crew can use the "old" one. Since it is still functional, I'll probably postpone that for quite awhile, unless the rest of it gets broken. Maybe I'll leave it on the edge of the counter....no, just kidding.
Blessings,
Debbie, Home at Serenity Springs
This particular tragedy has been quite a common occurrence in the Newman house for 20+ years. Yes, this coincides with the time our first child was born. Along with the unending joy that children bring, came unending broken dishes, knick-knacks, van windows, and now, the beautiful knob on my lovely new teapot.
Her name is Amber. She is 15, and I love her bunches. She has many gifts, but gracefulness is unfortunately not one of them. Many items have fallen by the wayside by her hand, or foot. She claims that she only scooted my teapot over, and somehow the lid jumped off which broke the knob. The lid wasn't completely broken, just the center knob.
I must admit, I wasn't pleased. My pot was no longer flawless, and wasn't quite as pretty as before, with a big hole in the middle of the lid. At least it still had a lid, I consoled myself. That is, until a week later. The same aforementioned lovely daughter bumped a plastic tub into my teapot on the counter, and BAM! The lid was history. A million pieces. Bummer. At least I still have my teapot, I consoled myself. So far, that is.
There is no guarantee in this house that anything breakable will remain unbroken. In fact, the Newman Law of Glass is that if it can be broken, it probably will. Apparently, it is one of the thorns I have to endure. It is also the reason we buy our dishes at Goodwill now, and why I don't care, and in fact embrace, the truth that none of our plates match. If you only pay .99 for a plate, and you have no matching sets, you don't care if one gets broken.
See? No matches!
All of this to say I have learned to hold my possessions loosely. A lesson we all need to learn, and God used lots of broken items to reinforce the point to me. Maybe I needed it. My mother has a lot of nice things all over her house that need to be dusted and NOT BROKEN. That is what I grew up with, so I probably have a gene that has a tendency to enjoy things too much. I'm pretty sure that gene left the building crying several years ago, and that's okay.
This world is not the end of everything; the best is yet to come in Eternity. We can't take any of it with us, so it's best to learn to hold loosely to our "stuff" now. Personally, I have thoroughly enjoyed the journey of organizing, cleaning, reducing, giving stuff away, seeing just how little we can get along with. I hate clutter with a passion, and with five people in this small house, it can be very challenging to avoid it. We have done pretty well, though, and continue to sift through everything as needed. It is so freeing!! That's the best part.
Clutter is oppressive. Open, organized, uncluttered spaces feel like a breath of fresh air. It is marvelous, and I recommend it highly! Even the baby step of spending a few minutes at a time going through problem areas makes a huge difference. I like the tip that in going through your closet, if you wouldn't buy it at the store right now, get rid of it. Most of us have so many clothes and shoes, we can't even get to everything to see what we have, much less ever wear all of it.
Hold loosely; love people, not things. It's a good lesson. As for my teapot, my husband said that someday in the not too distant future he would buy me another one and the wrecking crew can use the "old" one. Since it is still functional, I'll probably postpone that for quite awhile, unless the rest of it gets broken. Maybe I'll leave it on the edge of the counter....no, just kidding.
Blessings,
Debbie, Home at Serenity Springs
Friday, January 10, 2014
Homemade Tooth Powder that works! (to replace unhealthy toothpaste)
I made a batch of this tooth powder today. It is super easy to make; it took about 5 minutes from start to finish!
Our family here at Serenity Springs has been using tooth powder instead of toothpaste for at least 4 years now. We made the switch after we started reading information on all of the added unhealthy ingredients in the store-bought formulas, including fluoride. Learn about the dangers of fluoride HERE.
We have been seeking more natural ways to do everyday things for some time now. I truly believe that reducing the toxins that we take into our bodies will help us live healthier lives in the long run. This recipe is not hard to make, and once you have the ingredients, you can make several batches with them.
That being said, here's the recipe!
Homemade Tooth Powder Recipe
4 parts bentonite clay (I used a 1/2 cup measuring cup per part. I like big batches. You can use whatever size measuring utensil you want) Get bentonite clay HERE (affiliate link)
1 part baking soda
1/2 part ground cloves You can buy bulk whole cloves HERE and grind them yourself or you can just use 10 drops of clove oil
10-20 drops peppermint oil
10-20 drops tea trea oil
10 drops cassia oil (optional) Find Peppermint, Clove, Tea Tree, and Cassia oils HERE
If you prefer a sweeter taste, you can add 1/ 2 part Stevia, but I don't put it in our formula.
Mix all of the ingredients together in a glass jar, and shake well to distribute oils. I pour a bit into a small bowl with a lid for actual use in the bathroom. Apply some to toothbrush, and there you go!
The bentonite clay neutralizes the acids in your mouth which cause cavities, and acts as an abrasive cleanser along with the baking soda, which is also an acid-neutralizer.
The menthol in peppermint oil makes a great breath freshener, and is also anti-bacterial.
Cloves are anti-bacterial and help to kill germs in your mouth. This is also the function of tea-tree oil.
All of these ingredients together make a POWERFUL cavity fighter. You can also be confident in the natural ingredients instead of the questionable, unhealthy, potentially poisoning ones in commercial toothpaste formulas. Once you have the ingredients, it is a cinch to make, and it serves our family of 5 for quite awhile before I have to make another batch. You can also use the ingredients for other things, like using peppermint oil to treat headaches and nausea.
Give it a try! You won't regret it!!
Blessings,
Debbie, Home at Serenity Springs
debthemom1971@yahoo.com
Our family here at Serenity Springs has been using tooth powder instead of toothpaste for at least 4 years now. We made the switch after we started reading information on all of the added unhealthy ingredients in the store-bought formulas, including fluoride. Learn about the dangers of fluoride HERE.
We have been seeking more natural ways to do everyday things for some time now. I truly believe that reducing the toxins that we take into our bodies will help us live healthier lives in the long run. This recipe is not hard to make, and once you have the ingredients, you can make several batches with them.
That being said, here's the recipe!
Homemade Tooth Powder Recipe
4 parts bentonite clay (I used a 1/2 cup measuring cup per part. I like big batches. You can use whatever size measuring utensil you want) Get bentonite clay HERE (affiliate link)
1 part baking soda
1/2 part ground cloves You can buy bulk whole cloves HERE and grind them yourself or you can just use 10 drops of clove oil
10-20 drops peppermint oil
10-20 drops tea trea oil
10 drops cassia oil (optional) Find Peppermint, Clove, Tea Tree, and Cassia oils HERE
If you prefer a sweeter taste, you can add 1/ 2 part Stevia, but I don't put it in our formula.
Mix all of the ingredients together in a glass jar, and shake well to distribute oils. I pour a bit into a small bowl with a lid for actual use in the bathroom. Apply some to toothbrush, and there you go!
The bentonite clay neutralizes the acids in your mouth which cause cavities, and acts as an abrasive cleanser along with the baking soda, which is also an acid-neutralizer.
The menthol in peppermint oil makes a great breath freshener, and is also anti-bacterial.
Cloves are anti-bacterial and help to kill germs in your mouth. This is also the function of tea-tree oil.
All of these ingredients together make a POWERFUL cavity fighter. You can also be confident in the natural ingredients instead of the questionable, unhealthy, potentially poisoning ones in commercial toothpaste formulas. Once you have the ingredients, it is a cinch to make, and it serves our family of 5 for quite awhile before I have to make another batch. You can also use the ingredients for other things, like using peppermint oil to treat headaches and nausea.
Give it a try! You won't regret it!!
Blessings,
Debbie, Home at Serenity Springs
debthemom1971@yahoo.com
Wednesday, January 8, 2014
Are You Rejoicing in the Wife of Your Youth?
Are you rejoicing? Are you truly rejoicing?? Proverbs 5:18 tells us to "rejoice in the wife of thy youth". Obviously, this verse is addressing men, but I think it applies to women as well, especially these days, to rejoice in the husbands of our youth.
What does this mean? It means, for starters that we have to be counter-cultural (one of my favorite words!). Our society idolizes youth, perfection, slimness, and sexuality. But the reality is, we age. And I really don't think God wants us to plasticize our bodies to fit in or compete with people much younger than ourselves. Women age, men age. Some men get a bit of a belly. Some women have wrinkles or larger hips or bottoms than when first married.
I am completely in favor of taking care of oneself, and by no means should we "let ourselves go to pot". Discipline in diet, if not in exercise, should be a part of our lives even as we age. However, our spouses are our beloveds for life. The odds are great that at some point, age will win the battle, and we won't look 20, or 30, or....You get the point. That is when contentment, love, and commitment should take over.
Men, so what if your wife doesn't look like that 20-year-old something that is always popping up on your Yahoo page, the billboard, or in front of you in Wal-mart?? Ladies, so what if he leaves his socks on the floor, has a bit of a pot belly, thinning/gray hair, and doesn't primp in the bathroom like the girly-boys of today? Accept each other for who you are. Actually, go past acceptance to total embrace of the glorious, aging, un-perfect (aren't we all, even the sex idols?) person you are married to.
Don't expect your spouse to compete with the shallow, hyper-sexualized, air-blown, self-absorbed, self-idolizing men/women of today. We shouldn't even indulge our eyes or waste one thought on all of that falseness. Be content with what you have. Pray for them in areas you think could use some improvement instead of nagging them about it. One of the wisest pieces of advice I have read in the past year is to take our complaints about our spouses to God, and take our praises about our spouses straight to our spouses. I don't think nagging EVER worked to change anybody, male or female.
Contentment. It is a marvelous thing. Wisdom about the foolishness and lies that are today's culture is also a marvelous thing. Beauty is fleeting. Relationships built on a solid commitment regardless of looks, and regardless of circumstances, will endure, and these kinds of relationships cultivate contentment.
I just finished the book "The Last Dance but not the Last Song" by Renee Bondi. She became a quadriplegic while engaged to a very nice young man. He could have called the wedding off, but after thought and prayer, he committed to the marriage and has been her faithful lover ever since. Such a wonderful commitment. She won't ever fit the standard of sexiness of today (and neither will most of us). However, in spite of that, and with eternal goals in mind, they stayed together and have a marvelous relationship. Get the book inexpensively from Amazon HERE (Affiliate Link).
Let us all work to be more content in our marriages. Let us be counter-cultural people who don't care for nor fall for the world's standards or lies. Let us protect our eyes so that we will super-sensitized to the beauty of our spouses. Rejoice in the husband of your youth. Rejoice in the wife of your youth. Love them for who they are, a glorious beloved one of God. Be content.
Blessings,
Debbie, Home at Serenity Springs
What does this mean? It means, for starters that we have to be counter-cultural (one of my favorite words!). Our society idolizes youth, perfection, slimness, and sexuality. But the reality is, we age. And I really don't think God wants us to plasticize our bodies to fit in or compete with people much younger than ourselves. Women age, men age. Some men get a bit of a belly. Some women have wrinkles or larger hips or bottoms than when first married.
I am completely in favor of taking care of oneself, and by no means should we "let ourselves go to pot". Discipline in diet, if not in exercise, should be a part of our lives even as we age. However, our spouses are our beloveds for life. The odds are great that at some point, age will win the battle, and we won't look 20, or 30, or....You get the point. That is when contentment, love, and commitment should take over.
Men, so what if your wife doesn't look like that 20-year-old something that is always popping up on your Yahoo page, the billboard, or in front of you in Wal-mart?? Ladies, so what if he leaves his socks on the floor, has a bit of a pot belly, thinning/gray hair, and doesn't primp in the bathroom like the girly-boys of today? Accept each other for who you are. Actually, go past acceptance to total embrace of the glorious, aging, un-perfect (aren't we all, even the sex idols?) person you are married to.
Don't expect your spouse to compete with the shallow, hyper-sexualized, air-blown, self-absorbed, self-idolizing men/women of today. We shouldn't even indulge our eyes or waste one thought on all of that falseness. Be content with what you have. Pray for them in areas you think could use some improvement instead of nagging them about it. One of the wisest pieces of advice I have read in the past year is to take our complaints about our spouses to God, and take our praises about our spouses straight to our spouses. I don't think nagging EVER worked to change anybody, male or female.
Contentment. It is a marvelous thing. Wisdom about the foolishness and lies that are today's culture is also a marvelous thing. Beauty is fleeting. Relationships built on a solid commitment regardless of looks, and regardless of circumstances, will endure, and these kinds of relationships cultivate contentment.
I just finished the book "The Last Dance but not the Last Song" by Renee Bondi. She became a quadriplegic while engaged to a very nice young man. He could have called the wedding off, but after thought and prayer, he committed to the marriage and has been her faithful lover ever since. Such a wonderful commitment. She won't ever fit the standard of sexiness of today (and neither will most of us). However, in spite of that, and with eternal goals in mind, they stayed together and have a marvelous relationship. Get the book inexpensively from Amazon HERE (Affiliate Link).
Let us all work to be more content in our marriages. Let us be counter-cultural people who don't care for nor fall for the world's standards or lies. Let us protect our eyes so that we will super-sensitized to the beauty of our spouses. Rejoice in the husband of your youth. Rejoice in the wife of your youth. Love them for who they are, a glorious beloved one of God. Be content.
Blessings,
Debbie, Home at Serenity Springs
Saturday, January 4, 2014
Easy Fruit/Vegetable Soak for Better Health
Soaking your produce. This is something so easy ANYONE can do it. Why would anyone soak their produce? To help remove the chemicals used in growing and processing it. Certain fruits and vegetables can literally have dozens of different pesticide residues on them. These pesticides add to other toxins our bodies are exposed to, increasing our toxicity and causing illness and disease.
This is a habit I have been working to establish in the past year. It is almost an automatic habit, but not quite. It only takes a few minutes, and I really believe the results can benefit our health with long-term use, especially with non-organic produce, but even organic can be minimally sprayed with pesticides.
With that being said, here's how to do it:
Fruit and Vegetable Soak
Add 1 cup or so of white vinegar to a pot, large bowl or your sink and fill with warm water. Add your produce and let soak for at least 15 minutes. I sometimes leave mine in for a half-hour; I figure the longer, the better. Rinse well. You can either drain the produce dry or dry with a clean kitchen towel like I do.
I feel like my produce is even cleaner for doing this added step. Obviously, you wouldn't dry your greens (lettuce, spinach, kale) with a towel. I use my salad spinner for those. Get a salad spinner HERE (affiliate link).
I also made a list of what produce to store in the fridge and what produce to store at room temperature. I will include that in a later post. Storing it properly helps it to stay at its peak longer, ensuring less waste.
This is such an easy thing to do to improve our health and reduce the amount of toxins entering our bodies.
To learn about the toxins allowed in our food and household products, here is a book we own that really helped enlighten us. It has an index in the back of the mentioned chemicals, and what the possible dangers are in using them. The book covers food, drinks, shampoos and other personal care products, makeup, cleaners and more. It also teaches you healthier alternatives.
Blessings,
Debbie: Home at Serenity Springs
This is a habit I have been working to establish in the past year. It is almost an automatic habit, but not quite. It only takes a few minutes, and I really believe the results can benefit our health with long-term use, especially with non-organic produce, but even organic can be minimally sprayed with pesticides.
With that being said, here's how to do it:
Fruit and Vegetable Soak
Add 1 cup or so of white vinegar to a pot, large bowl or your sink and fill with warm water. Add your produce and let soak for at least 15 minutes. I sometimes leave mine in for a half-hour; I figure the longer, the better. Rinse well. You can either drain the produce dry or dry with a clean kitchen towel like I do.
I feel like my produce is even cleaner for doing this added step. Obviously, you wouldn't dry your greens (lettuce, spinach, kale) with a towel. I use my salad spinner for those. Get a salad spinner HERE (affiliate link).
I also made a list of what produce to store in the fridge and what produce to store at room temperature. I will include that in a later post. Storing it properly helps it to stay at its peak longer, ensuring less waste.
This is such an easy thing to do to improve our health and reduce the amount of toxins entering our bodies.
To learn about the toxins allowed in our food and household products, here is a book we own that really helped enlighten us. It has an index in the back of the mentioned chemicals, and what the possible dangers are in using them. The book covers food, drinks, shampoos and other personal care products, makeup, cleaners and more. It also teaches you healthier alternatives.
Blessings,
Debbie: Home at Serenity Springs
Wherever you are, be all there
"Wherever you are, be all there"
This is one of my all time favorite quotes, spoken by Jim Elliot, a missionary who died while ministering to the Waodoni natives in Ecuador. If you have never seen the movie based on his story, End of the Spear, it's worth a watch. (Buy the movie "End of the Spear" HERE). Redeeming forgiveness is the ultimate theme of this movie - something amazing to behold in its rarity and ever so hard to offer to those who have wronged us.
I digress, however, from the wonderful quote of being all there. This subject almost writes itself in today's multi-tasking world. This quote has haunted me the past couple of years, coming back to me at the oddest times and places. Being completely where you are at and who you are with is an obvious concept, but can be a lofty goal without concerted effort, at least in my experience.
I confess, I still need to work on this one. My mind can be so busy and convoluted that I lose my focus on the moment. I want to do better; I need to do better. Don't you hate being a distracted, mind-busy mess that can't even enjoy the precious moments of the day?
Can you imagine the rewards if we mastered the art of being all there for our kids, our husbands, our wives, or anyone else who is sharing time with us? I pray this quote continues to come back to me when I fall prey to distraction. There will be times when we are pulled in several directions, but I think we can make it a habit more than not to try to slow down and focus on one thing at a time, enjoying each moment to the fullest.
It certainly sounds a lot more peaceful to the soul, as well, does it not?
Blessings,
Debbie, Home at Serenity Springs
This is one of my all time favorite quotes, spoken by Jim Elliot, a missionary who died while ministering to the Waodoni natives in Ecuador. If you have never seen the movie based on his story, End of the Spear, it's worth a watch. (Buy the movie "End of the Spear" HERE). Redeeming forgiveness is the ultimate theme of this movie - something amazing to behold in its rarity and ever so hard to offer to those who have wronged us.
I digress, however, from the wonderful quote of being all there. This subject almost writes itself in today's multi-tasking world. This quote has haunted me the past couple of years, coming back to me at the oddest times and places. Being completely where you are at and who you are with is an obvious concept, but can be a lofty goal without concerted effort, at least in my experience.
I confess, I still need to work on this one. My mind can be so busy and convoluted that I lose my focus on the moment. I want to do better; I need to do better. Don't you hate being a distracted, mind-busy mess that can't even enjoy the precious moments of the day?
Can you imagine the rewards if we mastered the art of being all there for our kids, our husbands, our wives, or anyone else who is sharing time with us? I pray this quote continues to come back to me when I fall prey to distraction. There will be times when we are pulled in several directions, but I think we can make it a habit more than not to try to slow down and focus on one thing at a time, enjoying each moment to the fullest.
It certainly sounds a lot more peaceful to the soul, as well, does it not?
Blessings,
Debbie, Home at Serenity Springs
Wednesday, January 1, 2014
Finding Balance
Like many, I have found myself to be a grand failure at resolutions. Instead, I have started making short and long-term goals that I can work on throughout the year. Almost the same thing, but not quite. To me at least, goals are more permanent changes I want to make in my life, and all baby-steps in those areas are welcomed and rejoiced over.
One of the things I would like to change this year is to try very HARD to focus more on all things positive, and less on anything negative. This applies to all areas, but my first step is going to be world news/politics related. I think most of us are at the point that nothing surprises us news-wise. Bad people do bad things. Really bad people do really bad things. We all need Jesus. I want to reduce the number of negative articles and blogs that I read and re-post. This is where balance will come in handy.
There are certain things that I am more passionate about than others. Protecting children, media wisdom for children and adults, and spousal relationships are a few, and I will probably (definitely) continue to post articles and blogs related to them even if they are negative. There are still a lot of believers who need to wake up and get their heads out of the sand regarding certain things, and my prayer is that something someone says or posts will help accomplish that.
Seeing the detrimental results of apathy in parenting regarding things like unrestricted cell-phones with internet access and texting, unrestricted cable in children's bedrooms, and complete trust that nothing will happen when kids are sent off to neighbors and friends have helped our family see a need for some standards in these areas that we feel have protected them from things like porn, sexting, and abuse up to this point. The seriousness of these issues and their lifelong probable consequences (learned from my own personal experience) is what propels me to continue to read and post potentially negative things about them.
Regarding other violent or evil things that are happening around the world: Do I really need to read blow-by-blow accounts of every shooting, every plane crash, every new knock-out game victim, and all the political posturing and baloney from politicians? Or can I read the headline, add it to my prayer list, and move on to things that are more positive and more worthy of brain time and space? I have decided that the time I devoted to those things last year really didn't benefit me in any way, except to satisfy some kind of morbid curiosity. Time for change and better choices. I truly hope I am successful at this endeavor, because these days we all need a more positive mindset to navigate our lives.
Sometimes the stupid bug bites me and I forget all my good intentions, so I hope if you know me you will (gently) remind me of my goal if I post something negative not related to one of my passions. Thank you in advance; we all need help!!
Will you set goals, small or large, this year?
Debbie , Home at Serenity Springs (Like me on Facebook Here)
One of the things I would like to change this year is to try very HARD to focus more on all things positive, and less on anything negative. This applies to all areas, but my first step is going to be world news/politics related. I think most of us are at the point that nothing surprises us news-wise. Bad people do bad things. Really bad people do really bad things. We all need Jesus. I want to reduce the number of negative articles and blogs that I read and re-post. This is where balance will come in handy.
There are certain things that I am more passionate about than others. Protecting children, media wisdom for children and adults, and spousal relationships are a few, and I will probably (definitely) continue to post articles and blogs related to them even if they are negative. There are still a lot of believers who need to wake up and get their heads out of the sand regarding certain things, and my prayer is that something someone says or posts will help accomplish that.
Seeing the detrimental results of apathy in parenting regarding things like unrestricted cell-phones with internet access and texting, unrestricted cable in children's bedrooms, and complete trust that nothing will happen when kids are sent off to neighbors and friends have helped our family see a need for some standards in these areas that we feel have protected them from things like porn, sexting, and abuse up to this point. The seriousness of these issues and their lifelong probable consequences (learned from my own personal experience) is what propels me to continue to read and post potentially negative things about them.
Regarding other violent or evil things that are happening around the world: Do I really need to read blow-by-blow accounts of every shooting, every plane crash, every new knock-out game victim, and all the political posturing and baloney from politicians? Or can I read the headline, add it to my prayer list, and move on to things that are more positive and more worthy of brain time and space? I have decided that the time I devoted to those things last year really didn't benefit me in any way, except to satisfy some kind of morbid curiosity. Time for change and better choices. I truly hope I am successful at this endeavor, because these days we all need a more positive mindset to navigate our lives.
Sometimes the stupid bug bites me and I forget all my good intentions, so I hope if you know me you will (gently) remind me of my goal if I post something negative not related to one of my passions. Thank you in advance; we all need help!!
Will you set goals, small or large, this year?
Debbie , Home at Serenity Springs (Like me on Facebook Here)
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