Mind-Renewing Monday

"I will look favorably on this kind of person: one who is humble, submissive in spirit, and who trembles at My word."  Isaiah 66:2b

Celebrating the birth of Jesus!

Our most joyous times are when we take time to focus on the abundance of God's goodness, mercy, and loving kindness in our lives.  That is what the Thanksgiving season is all about.  We want our lives to reflect that same spirit of thankfulness each day - not just one day out of the year!

Our joy continues now as we enter the season of celebrating our Savior's birth!!  Wow - it makes my heart overflow with praise!

Several years ago, I received an excellent book, "The ADVENTure of Christmas - Helping Children Find Jesus in our Holiday Traditions" by Lisa Whelchel.  Since then, Jason and I have used the writings and activities in this book with the children during the Christmas season.

We started celebrating the season over the weekend by picking out our tree and decorating.  We all agree that this year's tree is the best one yet - I think we say that every year :)!  And, last night we focused our attention on the season of Advent.  The word "Advent" means, "to come," and it is referring to Jesus' coming to earth as a baby on Christmas Day.  We talked about what it means to prepare for Advent, and we focused on the reason for the celebrations and parties surrounding this holiday season.

 

Today, Emily Ann and I made an Advent Calendar of Kisses.  This is a fun way for us all to count down the days until Christmas.  Beginning on December 1, we'll exchange one kiss from one of the children (I'm sure there will be lots of arguing over who goes first) for a "chocolate kiss" from the Advent calendar as we count down the days!

Another Advent or "coming" that God has promised is Jesus' second coming.  As we celebrate Jesus' first arrival here on earth, it is a good time to look within to see if there are any areas that need cleaning up as we anticipate Jesus' second coming.  Praise God for His Christmas Gift to us - nothing will ever satisfy us more!


     

Mind-Renewing Monday

"So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline.  Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense.  Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you.  And regardless of what else you put on, wear love.  It's your basic, all-purpose garment.  Never be without it."  Colossians 3:12-14 (The Message) 

Mind-Renewing Monday...Thanksgiving Week

"I love You, Lord, my strength.  The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer, my God, my mountain where I seek refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold."  Psalm 18:1-2

Mind-Renewing Monday

"Therefore, my dear brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the Lord's work, knowing that your labor in the Lord is not in vain."  1 Corinthians 15:58

Mind-Renewing Monday

"For we are His creation - created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time so that we should walk in them."  Ephesians 2:10

Mind-Renewing Monday

"My goal is to know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death,"  Philippians 3:10

Mind-Renewing Monday

"but our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.  He will transform the body of our humble condition into the likeness of His glorious body, by the power that enables Him to subject everything to Himself."  Philippians 3:20-21 HCSB

Mind-Renewing Monday

"For I passed on to you as most important what I also received:
that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures." 1 Corinthians 15:3-4

Mind-Renewing Monday - The Gospel

"But God proves His own love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us!" Romans 5:8

Mind-Renewing Monday (on Wednesday)

Due to technical difficulties with the Internet and school schedules, we are just now getting our weekly verse up!  God's Word is powerful and it has been tremendously helpful to us to have it literally in front of our faces each week - in the car, at the sink, in our pockets, next to the computer, etc...  We are half way through the Fall semester.  Our faith continues to increase as we realize daily that "our help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth" (Psalm 121.)

This week's verse...
"be careful not to forget the Lord who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the place of slavery."  Deuteronomy 6:12 

Mind-Renewing Monday

"Suppose I speak in the languages of human beings and of angels.  If I don't have love, I am only a loud gong or a noisy cymbal."  1 Corinthians 13:1 NIV

Mind-Renewing Monday

"I trust in You with all my heart.  Don't let me wander away from Your commands.  I have hidden Your Word in my heart so that I won't sin against You."  Psalm 119:10-11 NIV

Celebrating Family

We spent Labor Day at the Wolff home on Lake Lanier.  Twenty of us came together to celebrate Jack's 75th birthday and Jack & Diane's 30th anniversary!  It was a special weekend for Jack & Diane (Pa-Pa & De-De) to spend with their children and all of their grandchildren - 10 blessings! 

The most precious part of the weekend was when everyone expressed their love and gratitude to Pa-Pa & De-De.  Listening to each one's heart felt expressions was just wonderful.  And, Pa-Pa & De-De's words of blessing over the family were even more special!

A few pics from our special weekend...

5th Grade Fun!

Jake recently completed his first culture project for 5th grade.  He chose the Mayan culture because he learned a lot about the Mayans during our mission trip to Guatemala last February.  We even visited the Mayan ruins on our last day.  He was able to research more about the culture, how they originated, historic data, and their core beliefs.  He put it all together on a tri-fold to present to his class, including real pictures from our time at the ruins, a hand drawn map, research information, and a time-line.  Jake was proud of his work and it paid off with good remarks from his teacher.

Jake is enjoying his 5th grade year - it is the beginning of a very social time in his life.  We are growing as parents in this area as well - growing pains are not always fun.  Prayers, please!  Jake has lots of questions - and sometimes we just don't want to go there...but, we must!  Again, prayers and wisdom needed!

Mind Renewing Monday

I give you a new commandment: love one another. Just as I have loved you, you must also love one another. By this all people will know you are My disciples, if you have love for one another. John 13:34-35


We can't become more loving just by trying harder. Identify one or two areas where you need help. Pray everyday for God to grow this kind of love in you and that others would see it.

Celebrating 7 Years With Our Drew

Yep, he's 7!  He's thrilled to get his first Red Ryder BB gun...with lots of targets!  Why am I (his mama) a tad bit nervous??? 

We celebrated his special day with a Pokemon pool party.  Drew loves trading Pokemon cards - not sure where this came from but he's got quite a collection.  He keeps them very organized in a binder :).

He invited a few of his friends (with siblings) for a total of 16 at his party!!  Fun times in the water!

One of his favorite gifts was from our sweet neighbor, Caitlyn.  She rides bikes with Drew and he told her he wanted 2 fish for his birthday....guess what she got him?!

Now we have "Goldie" and "Black Tail."  He must have a way with words!!

Other fun Drew news - he has lost three teeth since July!!

What a blessing and joy our second son and middle child is!  Happy 7th birthday Drew!

Mind-Renewing Monday

We're continuing with Philippians 2:5-7 for our Scripture memory this week:

"Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men."  Philippians 2:5-7 ESV

Mind-Renewing Monday

Do nothing out of rivalry or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important that yourselves.  Everyone should look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.  Philippians 2:3-4

One Better

A couple of weeks ago I read a blog post on the Walking Worthy site entitled, "One Better."  Walking Worthy is the women's ministry blog site for Southeastern.  It is worth sharing:

Reblogged from (in)courage
Angie Smith ~ April 30, 2011

For the record, it was Todd’s fault.

I don’t even remember the specifics of our “disagreement,” but I am quite confident he was in the wrong. I don’t back down as readily as some of my “really good at being submissive” friends, and I recognize that it’s something I need to be better at doing.  For some strange reason, I seem to forget this factoid when I am knee-deep in self-righteous bickering and convinced that I am one witty comment away from victory.

But this particular night, I bit my tongue. I stepped on my pride momentarily and offered the kind of olive branch that was (sadly) uncharacteristic of me when I am mad (and also, right. Just in case you hadn’t picked up on that part).

I saw Todd’s face settle, assessing me in order to see if this was just a gimmick to lead up to my final blow, and it made me cringe. He knew that I could, and he was waiting because he assumed that I would.
But I didn’t.

I told him I was sorry and that I didn’t think it was his fault (that part was kind of a white lie. As previously stated I am convinced he was in the wrong. Carry on.)

As I looked at his face softening, I thought about the day I walked down a long aisle to get to him, knowing he was the only one I would ever love this way. And what in the world was I thinking right now? That somehow me proving how smart I was would change our marriage and make him look at me the way he did from the other end of the church?

So I stopped myself. I took a breath and apologized.

And in my head I heard the words, “You can do one better.”

And I did. In fact, I did more than one better because as soon as I started going I couldn’t stop. All I desired was to feel like I had built him up and swallowed my own ugly pride.

It turned out well, as you can imagine, and I walked away from it feeling like I had done the right thing.

I’m not saying it’s easy, but these two words have helped me make some really good and life-giving choices over the past several weeks…

One better.

I walk through the family room and notice a cup on the floor. I absentmindedly pick it up and start to walk to the sink.

One better, Ang.

So I go back, straighten the pillows, quickly gather the books scattered on the ground, and deposit the kids shoes in the shoe bin where they belong.

My friend calls to tell me about her business trip and all I can think is that I have deadlines that are crushing me and I don’t have time for the details. I catch myself, close the computer, and tell her I want to go on the porch so I can focus on what she’s saying.

It was just one better.

My daughter comes to me after having her feelings hurt, and I have a great talk with her. I mention Scripture I think will help her, I hug her, and I tell her I want to pray for her. It was good, but I knew I could just do one better.

I asked her if she wanted to go get a hot chocolate at the coffee shop down the road. We had a blast. When we got home, Todd had started making dinner and I told him I appreciated it.

And then I deliberately walked over to him, took his face in my hands, and told him what a good man he was.
It’s hard to do everything, but it isn’t hard to just do one better.

Make a note to yourself today and hang it where you will see it. As you walk through the day, instead of feeling like you can’t do it all, just remember-you don’t have to.

You will not believe the way these two little words start to shape your hours and your heart…so go ahead…do one better.

I dare you.

No wait, I DOUBLE dare you (see? It works for everything!).

Angie is the proud wife of Todd Smith of Selah, and the blessed mommy to Abby, Ellie, Kate, Charlotte, and Audrey Caroline, who passed away the day she was born, April 7th, 2008. You can read more about Audrey's story in Angie's first book, "I Will Carry You" available at bookstores everywhere. Her greatest desire is to share her heart and love for the Lord. Angie holds a Master's Degree in Developmental Psychology, and loves to write about topics related to parenting and child development. She is grateful for the opportunity to share her heart here on (in)courage as well! Follow Angie on twitter as@angelac519.