A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed. Proverbs 11:25

Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 2 Corinthians 9:7

Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act. Proverbs 3:27

The boys have been working on personal management skills. They’ve been learning these real world skills by getting their “paycheck” every week through an allowance. They have certain “bills” they have to pay (weekly activity dues), donations they make, money they put aside for savings, money they are free to spend, and they even keep emergency money for something that comes up unexpectantly.

I’ve seen something that I’ve been able to learn from. They tuck away their money into the donation envelopes, and when the time comes, they excitedly give their money to help others. They will even make suggestions where we can all donate to. They’re involved in giving, and I’ve watched their generosity grow. I’ve certainly seen them go into their spending money to give more than they set aside many times.

The character trait for today is Generosity-carefully managing my resources so I can freely give to those in need (definition from characterfirst.com).

In one of her books, Brooke St. James said that we shouldn’t worry too much about whether or not the person deserves good, and just do our best to act when we’re capable of it. Also, we think we’re doing something for someone else, and we end up being the ones who are blessed by it. This is so true!

Today, listen to where God wants you to give in His name, and do so generously and with excitement. Don’t worry about if they “deserve” it, just act! You’re faithfulness in listening and giving will be rewarded.

as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. Psalm 103:12

For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. Matthew 6:14-15

We were at my grandma’s house one year when she was taking down her fall decorations. She had several beautiful pumpkins she had painted many years before that needed to be taken to the attic. My aunt and I were lugging the box up when the unthinkable happened. Yep, we dropped them and they broke. We felt terrible and frankly, so did my grandma. She didn’t yell or get mad, but we knew she was upset. Even though we knew she was disappointed, we also knew that she would forgive us, and she did without hesitation! My aunt and I have brought it back up many times, but not her. When she forgave us, she forgave as God does…as far as the east is from the west.

My oldest was doing an essay for literature when he was amazed to read Matthew 6:14-15. Forgiveness is often taught here, and I’m sure he has heard those verses before, but this time it really hit him. He learned how important it was for you to forgive others. We can’t expect God to do something for us that we aren’t willing to do. It was quite a moment and made me take another look at those verses too.

The character trait for today is Forgiveness-clearing the record of those who have wronged me and not holding a grudge (definition from characterfirst.com).

It’s unbelievable how we can’t move forward when we don’t forgive. It’s not hurting the other person near as much as it’s hurting ourselves. In one of Brooke St. James’s books it talked about how you have to forgive others. She said that unforgiveness is like drinking rat poison and waiting for the rat to die. You’re wishing harm, or at least justice, on the person who wrongs you, but all that’s happening is you’re stuck remembering it. You’re the one drinking the poison.

I remember learning how forgiving someone wasn’t saying what they did was ok. What it was doing was allowing you to be free by handing over the situation to someone much bigger and more capable of dealing with it. God. He can’t deal with things that we’re gripping with both hands. We’re so busy holding onto that unforgiveness that we have no hands to catch His blessings.

I’ll guarantee you we aren’t hurting the one we feel has wronged us. They probably aren’t even thinking about it. We’re hurting ourselves. We’re allowing that person that we were mad at control us. We’re drinking the rat poison! Once it’s gone from our system we can feel our peace and joy come back. We may even restore a relationship.

Mahatma Gandhi said, “The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.” I know you’re strong and with God’s help you can forgive anyone. The reward is much too great to miss out on…freedom, blessings, peace, joy…

Today, put into God’s hands what you’ve been holding onto. It opens them for His blessings. One more thing, have you forgiven yourself? That’s part of it. Are you holding onto something that you’re ashamed of? Your hands still aren’t free if you are. God’s like Grandma. He forgives quickly once we repent.  Plus, our transgressions are removed as far as the east is from the west. He doesn’t bring them back up like we do. If you haven’t already, forgive yourself so you can move forward.

Blessed are those who listen to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway. Proverbs 8:34

My hubby was given the opportunity to go to Gettysburg, PA for a leadership seminar. We had been homeschooling, and the boys and I were invited to go along. What an awesome chance it was to explore and learn about a significant time in U.S. history! Of course we should’ve jumped at the chance to go.

I admit that the thought ran through my head that it would be different than we normally learn. It wasn’t part of the plan. We sit at a desk, follow a curriculum, have each subject taught separately, and do the pages in the workbooks. I was actually thinking that they may lessen their education by immersing themselves in history through walking those same paths that so many did so many years ago. Why? Because that wasn’t how we always did it. It wasn’t how everyone else was learning.

I learned some very important realities that trip. Education is about flexibility. Education is about taking hold of the opportunities to learn from experiencing. It’s about connecting one subject with another. It’s about excitement and growth.

We learned so much about important people that were there in Gettysburg. Then, we stood where they stood. We learned about the soldiers and how they would have felt. We did two trails; one confederate and one union. Education is about feeling and not just reading. We even visited the Eisenhower farm. We learned from people who were passionate and knowledgeable about that particular time in history.

The boys remembered so much more from seeing with their own eyes rather than looking at a picture in a book. It caused a connection with emotions being stirred up. Something as simple as going to a wax museum and looking at the presidents while learning some facts about them made it stick in their heads. This is what flexibility did for us. It unleashed God’s plans and blessings. It opened our eyes to a better way of learning.

If a child can’t learn the way we teach, maybe we should teach the way they learn.  -Ignacio Estrada

Education is the ability to listen to almost anything without losing your temper or your self-confidence.  -Robert Frost

The character trait for today is Flexibility-willingness to change plans or ideas without getting upset (definition from characterfirst.com).

In what area of your life are you missing out because you’re unwilling to change? When you don’t want to do something new, do you ever hear yourself say, “It’s how it has always been done. Don’t change something that isn’t broken.” Does it make you shake your head when someone else says it? Something doesn’t always have to be broken in order to make it better. Are we getting in God’s way of making it better? Is the system the cause of people being stuck?

Today, listen to others’ ideas and be open to a new way. God just might be showing you that you can fix something even if you didn’t know it was broken.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

Last Saturday was one of those days that didn’t need to be crazy, but my attitude started to make it that way. God really did provide a solution to everything, but I had a reverted back to my old ways a couple of times wanting things to follow my plan.

There was a dish I needed to make for a banquet we were going to. I was already behind and didn’t have all the ingredients. My hubby was kind enough to run to the grocery store to get me what I needed on his lunch break the day before. As I was setting the ingredients on the counter that morning, I couldn’t find the mushrooms. They were used the night before!

Could we just run to the store? Yep! Did I still have time? Yep! Did I stay in the right frame of mind? Nope. I couldn’t see us running to the store again when we were just there. Pretty silly…it needed to be done, and we were able to do it. God had a HUGE lesson in store for me.

The hubby went to get the mushrooms and came back from the store with a story to tell. He ran into someone who was in great need. Her husband was laid-off and there wasn’t enough money in her account. Her kids needed to eat and her card was being declined. God put my hubby there at the exact right time where he could be God’s hands. There was a reason we didn’t have those mushrooms for the dish, but I didn’t think of that at the time.

Instead of getting excited to see what God had planned when things weren’t going according to my plan, I had a bad attitude. I complained, yet God still used us to do the exact thing we ask of Him…show us how to give, how to help, how to bless, and how to be His hands here on earth. I could’ve screwed it all up by not going with the flow, relaxing, and letting God take care of it. I learned so much over the past month and was ashamed at not seeing the positive in the situation. Not showing faith.

The character trait for today is Faith-confidence that actions rooted in good character will yield the best outcome, even when I cannot see how (definition from characterfirst.com).

I stopped showing gratitude in that situation. I should’ve been saying thanks that we can get the ingredients, thanks that we have time, thanks that my hubby came home early. See, God had every detailed planned. All I needed to do was have gratitude in what I did have and keep confident that God would work the rest out. I couldn’t see how this could be a good thing, but that’s the point…I’m not God. I learned a very important lesson that I need to do what I can with thankfulness and a good attitude, and let God do the rest.

He drove His point home that night. Something new I’ve been doing is writing down what I think God might be telling me in my prayer time every morning. I’m still learning to listen to His voice. When I settled into bed that evening, I pulled out what I wrote earlier in the morning. I got goose bumps. It was something I didn’t even remember by 11:00 a.m. It said, “Give in the name of Jesus Christ.” He even told me, but I still wasn’t searching for what He gave me a heads-up on.

Today, don’t get caught up in the stuff that won’t matter five years from now or even next week. Keep a good attitude, and know that God will work everything out for the good of those who love Him! I guarantee He has a plan that is bigger and greater than yours.

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, Colossians 3:23

My boys will often play a DVD of German flashcards in the vehicle while we run errands. The hubby is constantly saying to give the remote control back to us before getting out so that it doesn’t fall out of the car. They tend to put it in the cup holder on the door where it isn’t very secure; there’s a concern that the slightest bump could cause it to drop to the ground when they’re getting out.

I was walking past the vehicle last week when something caught my eye. There was a black rectangle in the snow. Sure enough, it was the remote. In the snow. In the cold. All night long. I picked it up, took it inside, pulled out the batteries, dried it out, and let it sit. Hoping it wasn’t ruined. Hoping it was a temporary setback. Hoping it would warm-up!

It made me think of how our emotions can be pretty unstable just like that remote control. We let something that gave us such joy at one time become mundane. We rely on those unreliable emotions to determine if there is still joy in the task we’re doing. We become like the remote control wobbling around in the cup holder.

Let’s take a look at getting our first home. What joy we had to sweep our own floors, possibly with our brand new sweeper! Look how nice our house looked. Did you see what that sweeper can do? Let’s not forget about the first time we could do the laundry in our very own homes! How exciting! What about that new feather duster we got? Did you see what it can pick-up?

Ok, now think about those same tasks a year later, a month later, come on…really?…a week later! What happened to the enthusiasm? Not only has the joy waned, the complaining starts. It sounds to me like the joy wasn’t solidly in place, just like the remote control. Let’s look back…what happened to the remote control? It got left out in the cold. That happens to our enthusiasm too.

It shouldn’t though. Our feelings are pretty unreliable to begin with, plus, if you are relying on someone else’s, that’s even worse. Don’t let someone throw cold water on those thoughts, excitement, and enthusiasm, and don’t do it to yourself! Don’t let something that was once approached with enthusiasm grow cold.

The character trait for today is Enthusiasm-expressing joy in each task as I give it my best effort (definition from characterfirst.com).

Today, approach each task with enthusiasm as if working for the Lord. Would you really grumble and complain if you could actually see the Lord sitting on your couch watching you? Now, you might be saying, “Well, I can’t just go around faking my feelings.” I’m not asking you to, but you can change your feelings.

Start being thankful. It’s amazing how unstable becomes stable when we have gratitude in us! “Thank you for a roof over my head, thank you Lord for having carpet I get to sweep, thank you for a house of my own, thank you for this washing machine, thank you that I don’t have to hand wash them, thank you that I have furniture to dust…”

Terri Sevelle Foy said that to complain is to remain. The opposite of complaining is gratitude. Sounds like if you want to progress, you’ll become thankful pretty quickly! If you start showing gratitude, the enthusiasm will come. Just do it! You’ll see. The remote just needed to be warmed-up too.

being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. Colossians 1: 11-12

Have you ever gotten so excited that you didn’t care what you looked like? Were you willing to go to great lengths to reach your goal? Would you keep going simply because you refused to give up?

That was me recently. We took the boys to a creek where you were able to search and sift for gems. I admit that I got really excited! After we were done, my hubby told me that he had as much fun listening to my whoops and excitement as he did looking for the gems himself. Hey, they might not have been rubies and sapphires, but I was finding treasure!

At one point, there was a big rock with all kinds of gems underneath. The only problem was trying to get to them. I needed to reach way back in and the water was getting a little deep in that spot. It was a chilly day and I didn’t want to get water on my clothes. We were wearing long gloves and I could only go so far with my hand, but I wasn’t going to give up.

I had to get creative because nothing was going to get in my way. Before I knew it, I was lying on that rock with my feet in the air and my head almost in the water. What happened to my dignity? I realized that when I really wanted something, nothing was going to stop me. I had to persevere!

I found out something on that adventure. Some might call this particular character trait I have “stubbornness”, but I see it as perseverance…as endurance. I don’t give up! Now, if I’m able to persevere when it doesn’t look like I’d be able to reach my goal, which I did, doesn’t that mean I can apply that endurance to inward strength? Absolutely!

The character trait for today is Endurance-the inward strength to withstand stress and do my best (definition from characterfirst.com).

The key is, I don’t just have my strength, I have God’s strength! Knowing that, it’s so important that we have a new outlook on life starting right now. What a revelation to have as a new year starts. We are fully capable of withstanding all stress that might come our way through God’s power.

Did you make a New Year’s resolution? Are you about to quit because you can’t handle it? STOP! If God put that on your heart, you’re in His will. You have His power! Don’t let your thoughts mess with that. Don’t let others’ words mess with that. STAY STRONG!

There are two things you can do right now. Have one more year where you don’t accomplish what you set out to do, or find victory. The battle is mostly on the inside, where you let your own words, someone else’s words, and the devil’s nasty put-downs into your mind. Make your words line up with God’s and don’t let anything else in!

I challenge you to write down that goal and put it everywhere. Take a look at everything you do and ask yourself if it’ll help you reach your goal. If not, it probably isn’t worth eating, saying, watching, or hearing! When you feel weak, say, “I’m being strengthened with all God’s power!” over and over again until your thoughts are lining up with God’s. Write it on the mirror (use dry erase markers), on the shower walls (use bathtub crayons), on your computer, on your phone, on the fridge…I might buy stock in post-it notes!

Whatever you do, stay excited and DON’T GIVE UP!

I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them. Isaiah 42:16

When we went to the beach, we did something we haven’t done before. We collected sea glass. We found green, brown, and even black sea glass. They were frosty looking with smooth edges that came in all different sizes. It blows my mind that people find broken pieces of glass and take them home as a treasure. They aren’t being thrown away, they’re being collected!

I had to find out a little about how sea glass is formed. Wikipedia says that sea glass begins as normal shards of broken glass that are then persistently tumbled and ground until the sharp edges are smoothed and rounded. In this process, the glass loses its slick surface but gains a frosted appearance over many years.

People who collect sea glass as a hobby want to know the story behind what they find. Was it from a medicine bottle or a soda bottle?  Was it from a plate or a jelly jar?  Was it from a windshield or from art work?  Was it from the time of the Great Depression?  Was it earlier or more recent?

The glass starts out all nice, new, and shiny. Then, something happens to cause it to break. What is left is that sharp edge that can cut so easily.

That’s life for human beings too. That’s our story.  We start out new and innocent when we are born, but gain sharp edges along the way. It happens each time we deal with something unpleasant in life. It could be anything from a negative comment to a loss of a loved one. Yet, there’s hope for our sharp edges to be smoothed out.

Did you know that it takes sea glass 20-30 years, sometimes even 50, to get to where it’s the appearance that is desired? For us, God is the one to smooth our rough edges. Don’t get frustrated when it doesn’t happen overnight. Just like sea glass, it takes a bit of time. It’s a process that continues all through our lives.

The character trait for today is Discretion-recognizing and avoiding words, actions, and attitudes that could bring undesirable consequences (definition from characterfirst.com).

Today use discretion in what you say and how you act so your sharp edges don’t cut those you come in contact with. Emotions are one of the main things that bring about negative consequences. When I questioned a wise woman about how to handle undesirable emotions, she told me not to let them control me. When I asked her how to not let them get the best of me, her answer was very simple. She said, “Be nice.”

You’re a treasure to God no matter how you go to Him. He just wants you…your rough edges and all. However, I believe each time you simply be nice in the face of overwhelming emotions, you are allowing God to smooth out those rough edges. Then, you become the treasure to all those around you, not just to God.

but test them all; hold on to what is good, 1 Thessalonians 5:21

I remember one year when we went on vacation, I had someone tell me that it was important to take our truck. I was thinking of the gas and how the smaller vehicle would be easier to maneuver, but I trusted his judgement. He believed with his whole heart that was what God was telling us to do. Here’s the thing I’ve learned…who am I to argue with God? Now, don’t get me wrong, I might “discuss” with Him (something I need to work on), but we both know who’s going to win.

We were visiting the Shenandoah National Park and something didn’t seem quite right with the vehicle. It was a little nerve wracking because when you’re going down a mountain, you want your vehicle to be in prime condition! Although something seemed off, we made it to the bottom of the mountain and everything was ok again. We drove that vehicle several more hours until we made it to our final destination.

Once we got there, poof, definite problem! We were able to make an appointment with an auto mechanic that was very close to where we were staying. He was so kind and honest that we were relieved to have the problems with the truck happen exactly where they did. If it took any longer to fix, he was going to give us his own vehicle to use.

Now, the man who talked us into taking that vehicle blamed himself for our problems.  Did our friend hear God wrong? I had such peace about everything that I’m quite sure He heard God loud and clear.  I absolutely believe that we were supposed to take the truck on that vacation.

It wasn’t a time when I was asking, “Why me?” I realized that there was a deeper reason than to annoy me that the truck had to be fixed while away. I may not know for sure, but maybe I would’ve been by myself with the boys. We could’ve broken down in a dangerous area. I know that it happened when it did and when it was supposed to.

The character trait for today is Discernment-understanding the deeper reasons why things happen (definition from characterfirst.com).

With it being Christmas, please take some time to understand the deeper reasons why we celebrate this special time of year. Listen for God’s voice and try to discern how He wants you to celebrate the birth of that special baby that was born so long ago. Examine what you do, and hold on to what is good, but find ways to change what needs changing.

Merry Christmas!

 

All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty. Proverbs 14:23

I was thinking about the weekend we painted our home before we move in. The hardest workers were my parents and my aunt and uncle. They took their time off on a holiday weekend to help us be able to move out of our rental by the end of the month. They worked tirelessly from morning until night, just to get up and do it all over again! We taped, we brushed on paint, and we rolled on paint…all weekend. They never grumbled or complained, they just did.

We worked so hard during those days, but we needed to get the job done. Do you know that I have great memories of that weekend? It wasn’t just because of us preparing to move into a home that we bought, it was because of the memories.

There was the laughter in seeing my hubby head out to the store every ten minutes to pick up something else we needed. I think he was really getting out of the painting. Come to think of it, he is pretty smart. I don’t think he has painted yet after all these years!

The memories also consisted of all the groaning my aunt did as I told that same guy who was running off…again…I loved him. Isn’t it great when family can tease you? Hey, we still don’t leave without saying that to each other.

There was the memory of the first use of the bathtub that weekend by my little one (my oldest) who ate one too many M&M’s…Grandma!

Oh, and we can’t forget the trip to the ER because I twisted my knee coming off a ladder. Apparently, there are certain things that pregnant women aren’t supposed to do. Oops! These were the crazy memories that we look back and smile at.

The character trait for today is Diligence-investing all my energy to complete the tasks assigned to me (definition from characterfirst.com).

I will always be grateful for those who invested all their energy to help us get moved into our new house. There were several people in and out over several days. They all pitched in because they cared. They didn’t just offer words, they offered their time and energy.

Today, if a job needs to be accomplished, do it with diligence. Be able to look back at tasks done with fond memories and laughter. Also, tell your spouse you love them each time they walk out the door, even if someone is going to give you a hard time about it!

 

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; 2 Timothy 4:7

The other morning, I went to take the pup outside in the dark when I saw it was raining. I didn’t have an umbrella with me, but wanted to get him out to do his business. I figured I’d rough it, so I just pulled my scarf up over my head. I might have looked silly, but I wanted to stay dry! As soon as I stepped out, down I went. That wasn’t just any old rain! Everything was pure ice outside. How did I forget that freezing rain was forecasted as a possibility?

I didn’t get hurt at all, and that was the least of my problems. I still had to get the pup to an area where he could do his business. This seemed like an impossible task. I didn’t have ice skates, and even if I did, they wouldn’t help me because I don’t know how to ice skate! I shuffled, I slid, and I did what one might think of as some funny dance moves. I supposed I would’ve had to crawl if necessary. I had no choice but to get from point A to point B to complete my mission.

The character trait for today is Determination-purposing to accomplish right goals at the right time, regardless of the opposition (definition from characterfirst.com).

This made me think about how many times we just feel like giving up. If our goals are lined up with God’s goals for us, we shouldn’t face opposition…right? Not true! Sometimes it’s when we face the most. The devil doesn’t want us to accomplish God’s will.

What’s going to stop us from quitting? Not wanting the devil to win seems like a pretty good motivator to me. He would do too much celebrating if I got upset because that pup did his business anywhere but where he was supposed to, and frankly, this is where my stubbornness can be a positive thing. I don’t want him to win because each time he does, he gets a little bolder, more confident, and savvy in keeping us down the next time. He isn’t just winning over us, we’re letting him win over God. I don’t like seeing the bad guy win…I root for the good guy!

Today, be determined! Then, rely on God to help you deal with the opposition. He’s always waiting to help you make it across the slippery path we call life. You might need to shuffle, slide, or even crawl, but never give up! If you fall, don’t slink away like the devil wants, but have courage and try again. I found this little saying: Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the little voice at the end of the day that says I’ll try again tomorrow.

Don’t give the devil the satisfaction of winning; keep your determination, and if necessary, just try again tomorrow! Fight the good fight, finish the course, and keep the faith.