Monday Motto: To the best of your ability

Proverbs 16:3
Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.

Ecclesiastes 9:10
Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the realm of the dead, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom.

There are things that only you can do. God created you able to do those things that you are gifted in. Many things we do are routine, every day life things….like laundry, dishes, and grocery shopping.

But some things you do simple give you joy. They are creative and inspiring. Those things are your ABILITY.

In all these things IF we commit them to the LORD, He says that He will establish the plans. And if GOD is behind us then we ought to do it with ALL OUR MIGHT!!

AMEN!

F and L’er

Starla

Monday Motto: Avoid and become annoyed.

Avoid and become annoyed…

Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. The fearful are caught as often as the bold. -Helen Keller

Found this quote very interesting to say the least. So, if what I am thinking & feeling is never revealed by me to anyone it is a temporary inward solution and a continuous problem. That was a big wake up call for me! Sounds to me like Helen Keller is right. In the long run…it is a lot more work and stress to think I have it concealed within me. But really who am I fooling? Me, of course. Others can see, feel and even hear it even if I do not come right out and say it. That leaves room for the devil to do his dirty work. That is when imaginations start to manifest themselves in us and in others. There is the danger. What we assume will eventually consume us. Fear is a dirty culprit here. Either we step out in faith which is courage and be truthful or we decide to hide behind our well decorated walls of self protection. Which ultimately leads to rejection. The very thing we are working so hard to avoid we make friends with instead of ourselves.

Lately I have been purposely and consciously choosing courage. Courage is not the absence of fear, it is doing it afraid. It is a confidence enhancer and it really works!
I decided to look up the word enhance and it is very enlightening.


Enhance-1. improve: to improve or add to the strength, worth, beauty, or other desirable quality of something



2. increase clarity of image

Being who you really are inside and out. Such a freeing feeling you get when you release who you are to others instead of hiding from yourself and others as well.

2 Corinthians 10: 5-7
5) We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 6) And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your
7) You are looking only on the surface of things.

So the question is are we going to choose to look at the surface and stay on the merry go round or choose to improve ourselves and our relationship with being who God intended us to be? That requires going deeper.

Proverbs 8:12 The Message Bible
“I am Lady Wisdom, and I live next to Sanity;
Knowledge and Discretion live just down the street.
The choice is ours and ours alone. Free will. Are you willing?

obedience is complete. I'm working on it and it is a work in progress, Amen!


Have a great day!

Tina 

"Write your plans in pencil and give God the eraser."

Monday Motto: BE PART

 

I have been seeing the word ART a lot!

The latest is in a song called The ART of Virtue by Adrienne Young. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=intlQ01X5Lc

We are the creation of God...we are all His ART work.

Eph 2:10 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."

Sometimes I think we all look at things in our own narrow view point that we can not see how to get from here to there. What if when we wanted to break a habit or create within ourselves a new way to do things we thought of it as ART, a masterpiece in the working. Instead of seeing ourselves as flawed or cracked. Instead of being to hard on ourselves, what if we learned to let the brush of our creative mind paint on the canvas of our lives....and if we have an imperfection just work with it!!

PERFECTION what a word....it causes a sense of urgency to get it all right NOW!!

We see perfection as defined : freedom from fault or defect

Eze 28:15

You were perfect in thy ways from the day that you were created, till iniquity was found in thee.

We were ...we are created PERFECT...He made us just the way He wanted us to be...and what was that iniquity that was found...ADAM and Eve didn't listen to what the Lord had to say. They did what they wanted to do!!

 

1Ki 8:61

Let your heart therefore be perfect with the LORD our God, to walk in his statutes, and to keep his commandments, as at this day.

 

When we do what the Lord says to do our Hearts are PERFECT!! But Before Christ we couldn't do it on our own so God sent HIM...

 

Hbr 7:19

For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope [did]; by the which we draw nigh unto God.

 

I think the issue we have is the question of "what is perfect?" It is subjected to the opinions and views of people in the world instead of what God calls perfect. Sometimes we put peoples reactions as the standard of if something was right. I can tell you that- that doesn't work at all. Peoples reactions and way of thinking are often formed out of their EGO. So don't base what is perfect by that standard. The ego will tell you this is flawed and that is wrong like looking in a cracked mirror. But when Jesus is your reflection in the mirror it just SHINES the Light!!

 

So go do

 

The Art of Kindness...

 

The Art of Love...

 

The Art of Peace...

 

The Art of Joy...Just fall all over the place trying!! :0)

 

Be PART of Christ Body...being one with HIM gives us the strength to Be P(erfect) ART.

All of us together are a mosaic art piece!! Each piece holding a different angle of God's Image.

 

F and L'er

Starla

Behind the Scenes

Just wanted to share a song I love for the Motto Monday this week.  May it bless you.

Felt lead to put this one up because for the past week I have seen individuals attacking others on facebook in a religious way.  So sad when you see others choose to serve the Lord with Lip service... instead of having a relationship with Him and influencing others.  It is a beautiful thing when a person allows others to see the difference God makes in our lives = ) 

God I pray you help us through any challenges that rise up against us this week.  In Jesus Name I Pray.  Amen and Amen!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKZM7Kc0IPE

MONDAY MOTTO: HURT

Good Morning! = )

This article below from Mountain Wings, I have to share.  How often do we get hurt and feel that pain for hours, days or even weeks?  And say nothing?  I know I am guilty of it.  This devotional gave me even more insight on not to waste the time we have & there is a purpose for everything.
Starla and I were having coffee last Saturday .  Pumpkin Spice yummy! Here again my she was encouraging me to speak up for myself instead of isolating what I think & feel . It is challenging to not get affected by individuals in life that don't weigh their words before they allow them to come out of their mouths.  Words are so powerful and create life or death when they are spoken. After they are spoken we have no control left on them.   We sometimes don't realize the impact words have on other people.  Even if it is small words.  The smallest smirk, comment, someone's body language & tone. Do make an impact on our/their emotions, thoughts, actions, words & yes even our character.  I have realized even more so yesterday that I allow people to cross the line and leave me feeling jaded emotionally sometimes even for a couple of days.  I have caught myself just settling.  Staying there and doing the same thing over and over all the while getting the same results.  Like Starla said to me yesterday.  Stuck! That one word really got me thinking... Staying stuck while others run a muck, like a sitting duck.  Not good...  We are all prone to self deception. That is why it is key to have one, two or three trust worthy people in our lives to help us preserve who we are.  All the while relying on Christ to keep us all balanced. Without the Word & a real relationship with God it is nearly if not totally impossible to do.   I am so very thankful to have a best friend that is in the Word and lives by the Word.  God is a miraculous God that wants the best for us forever and always.  I'm so thankful for His love for me and for lining up everything so perfectly in my life.

Stumbled across this interesting tidbit. That I thought I would end with.


Embellishment is part of human nature, experts say, and almost everyone is guilty of it at one time or another. Left unchecked, however, exaggerations that seemed innocuous at first could result in serious consequences. "[Getting caught] can be devastating; I think it can ruin a person," says Alan Strudler, a professor of legal studies and business ethics at Wharton. That's unfortunate, he adds, "because embellishment is just a human frailty. But once you're caught in a deception, even if it's a common deception, people won't trust you. And once the bond of trust is lost, it's terribly hard to recover."


The subtle distinction can make us or break us. The simplest thing like telling someone that you appreciate them is one of the nicest things one can do. It goes a long way and helps a person through their day = ) Reaping and sowing is all part of life. Go bless somebody and be blessed back!


Have a great day & below is an interesting story that really got me thinking about pain & thought you may be interested in it to! I encourage you to read it, it is to good to pass up.


God Bless

TiNa = )


http://www.mountainwings.com/past/2066.htm
-------------------------------------------------
MountainWings A MountainWings Moment
#2066 Wings Over The Mountains of Life
-------------------------------------------------
Hurt
=====
Dear MountainWings,
This story changed my life and I thought maybe it could change others too, so I'm sharing it with you.
This story was told to me by my sister, whom it happened to.
She was really upset because she hadn't seen or spoken to her best friend Jim in a couple of weeks. Finally he shows up at her door and commands her to get dressed and go riding with him. So she finally does.
As they were riding, they passed a garden full of flowers.
Jim says "Do you see those flowers?"
"Yes," she says.
"Do you think that when someone steps on those flowers that they lie there and feel sorry for themselves?" Jim asks.
"No."
"No, they immediately start to mend their wounds so they can heal, and grow strong and healthy!"
They ride a little further and Jim points up in a tree, "You see those squirrels up there?
Do you think that when people shoot at them they go hide forever?"
"No," she says.
About that time the ocean comes into sight.
Jim says "You see that ocean out there?
Do you think that when there's a hurricane out there that the ocean doesn't go back out because it's afraid to face the storm?"
"No," she says.
"Then, why have you stopped living because you have been hurt?"
That story really hit me like a ton of bricks!
The worst part was the fact that Jim died a short time later.
And that's when she realized how much precious time she wasted.
　
Why have you stopped living because you have been hurt?
　
~A MountainWings Original~

Monday Motto: Detaching with Love

Detaching with Love
Sometimes people we love do things we don't like or approve of. We react. They react. Before long, we're all reacting to each other, and the problem escalates.
When do we detach? When we're hooked into a reaction of anger, fear guilt, or shame. When we get hooked into a power play--an attempt to control or force others to do something they don't want to do. When the way we're reacting isn't helping the other person or solving the problem. When the way were reacting is hurting us.
Often, it's time to detach when detachment appears to be the least likely, or possible, thing to do.
The first step toward detachment is understanding that reacting and controlling don't help. The next step is getting peaceful --getting centered and restoring our balance.
Take a walk. Leave the room. Go to a meeting. Take a long, hot bath. Call a friend. Call on God. Breathe deeply. Find peace. From that place of peace and centering yourself there will emerge an answer, a solution.
Today, I will surrender and trust that the answer is near.
I have been struggling here lately. Watching other people hurt others and not taking responsibility for that pain they inflict on others really bothers me, deeply... 
Life happens and relationships can be very challenging at times.  I hope this helps somebody today.
God Bless Your Monday Abundantly!
TiNa = )

MONDAY MOTTO : BE SURRENDERED

MONDAY MOTTO : BE SURRENDERED

Philippians 4:8

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

My mom came to visit me over this past week. I really enjoyed my time with her. She kept making comments to me about my complaining while driving. Honestly I didn’t think that I had an issue until she pointed out ever HUFFY PUFFY, GRRRRRRRRR!!, What the? , DID you SEE that? and OH COME ON!!!!!!!!!! that I made while driving. I began to take a look at myself more closely. I had a complaint OFTEN on my lips. I immediately went to work of CONTROLLING MYSELF. Yeah..........:0/ that didn’t work so well. What I got was a deep brooding anger growing because now I was suppressing my anger.

I figured out what was needed.....SURRENDER!!!

When I gave up trying to do it in my own strength and said "LORD, I cant do this myself. You are my Life and I want to give you the reigns to my mouth. I need you Lord to do the work for me within" An amazing thing began to happen. I praised and thanked the drivers around me who were driving by the rules. MY FOCUS changed!!!

Yesterday my Pastor said sometimes we FOCUS on the wrong stuff. By being so UPSET over every driver out there that didn’t do right by MY RULES...I only fertilized that critical monster in me. My natural self wants to point fingers and blame the people on the road for not letting me on the highway, for not giving me enough room to get by or for going to slow. Well what I found out after my FOCUS adjustment was I was too slow, I was not patient, I was going to fast.

The way we handle things changes when we stop acting entitled because we are CHRISTIANS and actually BE CHRISTIAN!!

Surrender ...God knows how to fix it!!

F and L'er
Starla

Monday Motto - Be Nice!

Monday Motto: Be nice!


Gal 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

This verse is the prototype of BEING A NICE PERSON. Some think that being a nice person means you give yourself away. You say yes to everything. How often do you hear "well I didn’t want to be rude!!"

Well if LOVE is being nice then Love means not giving in to things that are trying to manipulate you because you are only perpetuating the situation and continuing the cycle of being manipulated. Yes! I know! it is hard to stand your ground and say no when you are being manipulated especially when that manipulator is telling you that your NOT A NICE PERSON in so many words....do not be guilted for choosing LOVE!!

If JOY is being nice ....then SMILE and don’t feel weird and odd when you walk around smiling and no one else does. Have you seen people!!! NO ONE LIKES TO SMILE and SAY HI to a stranger. BE STRANGE and SMILE!!

If PEACE is being nice....RELAX and REST.......stop pushing yourself to the point of RAGGEDNESS. When you feel the need to rest --TAKE IT instead of listening to that voice in your head that says you cant because "whatever" needs to be done.

If PATIENCE is being nice then stop freaking out when the light is red, stop getting so upset when people don’t change overnight....it took them a long time to get where they are, stop getting so upset when you don’t change overnight for the same reason!!

If KINDNESS is being nice then go be KIND!! Stop growling at people. ~that's just for me!! :0)

If GOODNESS is being nice then be good. You know what to do that is good and not evil ...just do it!

If FAITHFULNESS is being nice .........Have Faith in God to use all things for your good....Stick it out even when its rough. It will be ok!

If GENTLENESS is being nice .......Speak the TRUTH in LOVE.....say it in gentleness not harshness but whatever you do DON’T STUFF IT!!

If SELF- CONTROL is being nice.....THEN GET A GRIP ON YOURSELF!!!

F and L'er
Starla

Monday Motto - Be of One Mind

Mark 10:8 - and the two shall become one flesh; so then they are no longer two, but one flesh.


Monday Motto: Be of ONE MIND
My Pastor had asked us to take a spiritual gifts test that he provided for us. Over the past few weeks at my house I have been gathering information about the different types of gifts. My daughter (who is almost 12) saw the word celibacy on the spiritual gifts paper that she was taking and asked " What does the word celibacy mean?"

At first I said ...It means to not have sexual relations...and of course being almost 12 she looked at me like YUCK, MOM!!! After a few more minutes I said -  "It doesn’t just mean that, It also means to be separated unto God." (do we use the word unto anymore...lol) She liked that definition better of course. :0)

Well  lets look at this -separated unto God - thing more..

It says in 1 Cor 7: 32-34 I would like you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord's affairs—how he can please the Lord. But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world—how he can please his wife— and his interests are divided. An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord's affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world—how she can please her husband.

It says if you are married - YOUR INTERESTS ARE DIVIDED!! ...because you will be concerned about things surrounding your husband/wife. When I thought about this I was immediately swept up into my imagination and seeing how when you are JUST you and your following after the Lord things are pretty simple. BUT when you are married --  you are no longer two but one -- sounds like two minds in one body to me.. Basically if you and your husband are not on " the same page" so to speak then you are double minded couple.

Be of ONE mind the Lord says....2 Cor 13:11 be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.

Being of one mind creates an atmosphere of living in peace. Friendship with your spouse is important ...



Do you live in peace in your home with your spouse??? Is your spouse your FRIEND!

I don’t always live in peace with mine ...not like we would if we were of ONE MIND. We have different likes and dislikes, ideas, opinions about how to do things, and personalities. Sometimes being on the same page seems near to impossible. The foundation is Christ. God made us with all these differences knowing He would ask us to dwell together in peace and be of one mind. He sent Christ to bridge the gap.

If each of us focuses on Christ and what He has asked of us ..we will walk in love with each other..and not live selfishly expecting others to do all things our way.

F & L'er
Starla

Monday Motto - Please God

1 Cor 4:12-13 We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; when we are slandered, we answer kindly.

Monday Motto: Please God

In this passage of scripture Paul gives tells us what he and the apostles do when bad things happen:

--they get to work
--they bless
--they endure
--they answer kindly

The more common way would look more like this:

 SIT DOWN, HAVE A FEW CHOICE WORDS TO SAY, COMPLAIN, AND SNAP BACK for the injustice of it all.

Working with your hands requires you to GET UP and DO SOMETHING  -- Put your energy into positive things. To bless means that you have to let alot just ROLL OFF like the water on a ducks back and FORGIVE. To endure you must be GROUNDED in the WORD and have that SHEILD of FAITH to quench all those firey darts of the enemy when you are persecuted. To answer kindly requires that you know that WHAT COMES OUT OF YOU WILL DEFILE YOU not what another says and so you reply with kindness...you do unto others as you have them do to you.

These things are hard to do especially when you get down to that last one when we want to REACT to what people around us are saying about us...BUT WITH GOD all things are possible.

Most of them boil down to : Will you please God or Man???

Father help us to please you at all times...help us when we are weak to speak kindly. Give us a heart transplant and hook us up to the true source of Christ within. Help us to know that when we see the impossible and we begin to feel like weak and lowly no good creatures because we have behaved un-Christlike that YOU ARE RIGHT THERE to help us. Let us ask for forgiveness quickly and forgive ourselves and start walking in CHRIST right where we are.

F & L'er
Starla

Monday Motto - Have Faith

Monday Motto: Have Faith


But whenever you set out to do something extraordinary, there comes a point where, you have to choose between trying to control everything – or letting go and getting carried away by something bigger and more powerful than yourself. - Mark McGuinness

Do you need to have it all figured out?

Do you need to know what to say to speak?

Do you need to know what the outcome will be before you move?

What if we just JUMPED........??

What if we just understood that it is par for the course to trip once in awhile? and Ran anyway...??

Can you be willing to make a mistake?

God is not in the business of LETTING US DO IT OUR WAY........

He is however in the business of us DOING IT.......when HE says to.....whether we understand it or not.........even if we fall flat on our face.........did we listen???

It is not easy for us to let go of our need for controls, to know, to have it all figured out, and yet God knows that to listen to Him will bring us many things...maybe joy ....maybe persecution......maybe ridicule.......maybe success ...maybe...maybe...maybe.....

We are not guaranteed that what we think is a "good outcome" will happen.We are however promised this......we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.-Rom 8:28

Are we listening?? Are we Moving...working....acting...trying....doing....GOING FOR IT....

To do anything....taking the risk means it could take us through things that we may not like, want to deal with, or care to feel...(or we may have a factor of FEAR holding us back)....and to do them requires us to have FAITH.

Faith is not Belief. Belief is passive. Faith is active.
- Edith Hamilton

Now go JUMP !!

Have a great Monday!
F & L'er
Starla Smith

Monday Motto - Be Realistic and Honest

Monday Motto : Be Realistic and Honest


Proverbs 25:14 Who ever falsely boasts of gifts [he does not give] is like clouds and wind without rain.

This past week I wrote a post called HELD ACCOUNTABLE. In that post I mentioned taking a spiritual gifts test where I scored a total of 1 out of 15 in the category of Mercy. ( I was not happy about that!! ) :0(

In this verse is states that who ever falsely boasts of gifts ....I would have told you that I am a fairly merciful person...because I love people ...and I can empathize with others....and I want to help people....(I don’t like to look bad ) But the reality is when it comes to --dictionary.com definition: being compassionate or having kindly forbearance toward an offender or an enemy --- I personally would like to show them the letter of the law. I dont have natural mercy for offenders....but if I find others are unkind to someone and my feelings become affected I want to defend them --i dont know if that mercy or not...???

When you believe something or speak something that is not true then -- we become -- a cloud and wind without rain. Believing and speaking things that are not real are good for nothing, just a passing cloud that is here today and gone tomorrow ---they hold no weight!!! ...no substance...

It is only when we can be honest with ourselves and others that we are able to do something about what IS...

God desires that we call those things that be not, as though they were. (Romans 4:17)

I can not have faith to be more merciful if I am not willing to be honest about how non-merciful I am. Only then ....when I am realistic...seeing truthfully....can I have FAITH to call forth the MERCY of God up out of the SPIRIT that lives within me. As long as I falsely believe I am ok....I am only relying of my own WORKS of RIGHTEOUSNESS. Those false beliefs make me in need of MERCY...

Lord thank you that you know how to show us TRUTH about our humanness and need for you. That we can see YOU, that we can rely on you to be what we are weak in through your strength and not our own. Thank you that I can see that while I am not so merciful, I am however in need of much mercy and that you Lord are the ultimate source of MERCY for us all.

F & L'er
Starla

Motto Monday - Stay Connected

Monday Motto : Stay Connected


Proverbs 18:1 He who willfully separates himself and estranges himself (from God and man) seeks his own desire and pretext to break out against all wise and sound judgment.

I read this verse and it just caught my eye.

Considering the fact that I am the type of person who is melancholy and a bit on the introverted side, I am one who willfully separates when I am hurt, angry, or upset in anyway. I have a habit of auto-isolation. I don’t want to be that way, But I am. I struggle with it. Pray for me!

It takes me great effort to reach out. I naturally want others to believe that I am GOOD! Well guess what I am learning....they can see that I AM NOT FINE!!! They can feel my vibe when I walk into church that I AM NOT GOOD! But nonetheless I keep up this idea for myself and my own so called sanity ... that I am good!!!

so lets bite into this and see what it is made of....

willfully separates --that means purposely disconnect myself from other people

and estranges -- that means to turn away from, keep at a distance and treat others like strangers

seeks his own desire -- wanting what I want when I want it ( example --I'm mad and I will only become happy when so and so does what makes me happy)

and pretext --that means to conceal the true purpose, to put up a misleading appearance ( example --Im fine!! *smile* when inside I am angry, hurt and need prayer but I am being willful and seeking my own way)

and all that is just NOT WISE

On the surface this may not seem like that big of a deal --besides we don’t want the whole world to know our business right??

The problem is that doing this is actually a prideful  my way or the highway kind of attitude.

I am sooooooo busted!!!! The WORD tends to do that !! huh??

A few years ago ...heck a couple of months ago I would not have written such a lay me open kind of blog post...but I believe that Friendships of Love is about KNOW, SHARE, SERVE. It is getting to KNOW others, to SHARE who I truly am, and finding a way to SERVE each other through that knowledge.

This past week I was able to SEE myself in the moment and say I am ALRIGHT with a shrug of NO IM NOT to my Pastor. ( I know! - not the best but I mustered a little reality there ..come on gimme some credit ..lol)  He had a great sentence to share at that moment that caused changes for me that week that I needed...if I would have pasted my smile on and went the --I'M GOOD *smile* way --I would still be in this same spot not dealing with any of it and continuing my willful way. Now I am a few more inches further than I was last week and seeking answers and being honest about where I am.

How many times have I not done that and missed out on having people lift me up in prayer...LORD knows I need it!! Stay Connected because we need truth and we need people.

Hmmmmmm seems that I sort of did a continuation of last weeks post Be Present ...

Thanks for listening

F & L'er

Starla

Monday Motto - Be Present

1 Thessalonians 5:6



So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled.

Hello Starla here :0) Monday Motto for me today is BE PRESENT!!!

I am the type of person who is a bit dreamy, emotional, imaginative, self-aware and very bothered by upsetting emotional situations. In this past week or so I have endured some of those upsetting emotional situations. My problem is that I tend to CHECK OUT when these things happen. So much to the point that days go by and I have fully ordered my world, gone into full introvert mode, buckled down any emotional stray in my mind and imagine myself right into I AM FINE AND LIFE IS GOOD!!!  can anyone say : DENIAL!!!!

Does anyone else do this???

In this verse it says to BE ALERT ----to me that is STAY PRESENT ..stay with whats going on...deal with it until it is over...until it is no longer affecting me. Whether that means speak the truth, forgive offenders or confront the wrongness face to face. What ever IT is --BE PRESENT!!

but it also says : and.............SELF-CONTROLLED.

What I did is NOT self control!!! It is subconscious auto pilot take over...I ..ME...Mrs. suppose to be ALERT to what is going on because I read my bible and go to church ....is not in control of herself...FEAR is what is in control. I lose myself. I stop talking to people. I go into hiding. I don't want to feel all those negative emotions swirling around me. I don't want to have to be the big girl and say HEY!! that is not nice to act that way MR/MRS so and so....

So what I do instead is TURN ON MYSELF. I shut down and internalize it all. RESULT: ANXIETY!!

I am getting better and dealing with upsetting emo-roller coaster stuff. I hope to get to the point where I can SEE what I am doing as I begin to TURN OFF and instead TURN ON and work TRUTH. Truth makes a way for itself....and sometimes the one who speaks it isn't the most liked person. One thing I have learned (even though I am here again) is that if I stick with it - it is over way faster than if I ignore it.

So today's MOTTO : BE PRESENT --we may not always like the situations we are in but we can always learn from them if we are ALERT!! :0)

Thanks for listening ...

F & L'er
Starla

Read Between The Lines

Ever feel like you may be missing something?  The same thing happening over and over again?  I have been dealing with just that over and over again and keep wondering why does it have to be like this?  Coming back to the same conclusion time and time again.  Ding Dong!  Mountain experience, again!  You know just like the Israelites round and round the mountain they went...   I have to make myself stop and focus on purpose.  One thought at a time and allow it to process.  Ask myself questions and refuse to react but make sure I act.  One thing I have told myself over and over again when dealing with people is that you teach people how to treat you.  I am a firm believer in that.  I am responsible for me and I can not control nobody but myself.

Being mistreated is hard to take especially when it come in pairs or seems to be everywhere you turn that day or week.  Even more painful when it is coming from those people you love and want to be close with.  Like the old saying goes when it rains it pours.  I had just that over the holiday weekend to an unbelievable degree that just had me feeling like I was in a funk and totally drained.  Pulling myself back up again and doing my self check in order to do what needs to be done physically, emotionally, spiritually, socially and respectfully.  Do what is right despite what I feel...it is a challenging choice that has to be made.

A refreshing mental oasis with (The Truth) Christ!  What I mean is not as religious as it sounds.  I find that when I read God's Word it brings me back where I belong by balancing out my thinking.  Clears away the junk.  NO longer entangled by the disorder and confusion but relieved by the clarity of mind and truth that sets us free. Two words have stuck in my mind for some time now, so I thought I would just look it up and see what I find.  Then decided I  wanted to share it because it was so informing to me and hope it is to you too. 

oasis-  

1.  fertile land in desert: fertile ground in a desert where the level of underground water rises to or near ground level, and where plants grow and travelers can replenish water supplies 
2.  place or time of relief: a place or period that gives relief from a troubling or chaotic situation 

Fruit for thought: When we are level or balanced we are able to grow and be replenish. 

desert-

1. Lifeless place

2. A deprived place.

a place or situation that is devoid of some desirable thing or overwhelmed by an undesirable thing

Fruit for thought: When we ignore and choose not deal with issues/feelings we become out of balance, overwhelmed and end up with undesirable results.

Either one we choose, they are both contagious.  Reminds me of another saying I used to hear often, "What comes around goes around."   Or like God would say, "You reap what you sow."  Everything we do or say is spreading something to others.  We instill and spread what we think, say, feel and act towards all  those around us.   Introduce people to life not death by using the right kind of Wisdom...

Next I want to share my favorite scriptures that help me so much when I feel tormented by peoples words and my thoughts that entertain those words spoken.   A reality check that sets me free instead of being dominated by emotion.

James 3:10-20 (New International Version)

¹⁰Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. ¹¹Can both fresh water and salt^[a] water flow from the same spring? ¹²My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.

Two Kinds of Wisdom

 ¹³Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. ¹⁴But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. ¹⁵Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. ¹⁶For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.
 ¹⁷But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. ¹⁸Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.

I find it interesting how God asks us a question in verse 13.  Who?  And adds be aware of what is around you.   Then He is telling us to THINK and to pay attention to peoples deeds.  The next thing he gives us is keys to discernment along with a goal to be peacemakers and sow in peace in order to raise a harvest of righteousness.  All that we do is like the tide in the ocean, we see where it begins but do not know where it ends.  It blows me away when I think about how long the Bible has been here and who knows but God how many people it has affected.  Amazing thought that will last on into eternity.
Here are 5 P's that help me.  I actually have them posted in my kitchen to remind myself of the truth whenever I need it right now. = )
1. Permission- Jesus has sent us.
2. Power- The name of Jesus is our covering.  Expect opposition.
3. Provision- He is our provider.  Keep a positive attitude.
4. Protection- "Pray it home". Fight the battle with prayer.  God will supply.
5. Perspective- Stay close to others.  "Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: if one falls down, his friend can help him up"  (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10)

Tina Smith

MONDAY MOTTO

Monday motto is here again...To me Motto Monday is about putting a name to what God is talking to you about so that it is easily remembered for the week and a good way to get that bible reading in or getting connected to God.

Still trying to decide how exactly we are going to do this ...whether we post Monday Motto here or on the

F of L Facebook Page. This week I think I will post it on the FB Page. Tell us what you think. :0)

Click here: Monday Motto - Starla's Motto

Comment here or "LIKE" the Facebook page and post your Monday Motto

Thanks for joining us...

Starla Smith

Monday Motto

Hey here it is Monday Motto time. Tina and I write up a motto from our daily reading, writing, or thinking and post it on our FB group.
 Join us we would love to hear what God is talking to ya about....or just what is on your mind. or comment here too...anywhere is good with us :0) Please share.

So here they are ...our MOTTO's for this Monday

Tina's -- Rise above the mess and be blessed!
I am sitting here thinking about life in general and relationships I have with people & family. Ever feel disappointed because of the integrity that may be missing in some of your relationships? That was an issue I had to deal with recently. Feeling let down and not sure what to do. Even wondering if there is anything I can do about it. Came to one conclusion: I am going to let go and let God. Sometimes there are no immediate answers and time is your best friend. Wait for God to open a door of opportunity to restore the relationships that are broken. The perfect time to speak is the time that a person is willing to hear you. Love does not force its way into peoples lives it is simply a choice & a life style. Give them reasons to believe that we all are in search of love and that you care about them! Pick up the phone, send a card, or take them out to their favorite place to eat.


Spread love around! = )

Starla's --Don't Flatter


Prov 28:23 He who rebukes a man will find more favor afterward than he who flatters with the tongue.

I had an interesting conversation this morning that brought this verse to life for me. I was in the middle of reading my proverbs--and I hadn't had anything stand out to me for Monday Motto yet, but after that conversation I continued reading and came upon this verse.

I have often thought of flattering as just saying nice things that you don't really mean by insincere praise or attention ....but what if flattering is also not speaking the truth in the moment. Like when you know someone is not listening to what you have to say. So instead of saying " I don't think you are listening to what I am saying to you?" you stop talking and let the moment pass. You walk away from the conversation feeling like you weren't heard and you have a little chip on your shoulder about that person.

To flatter is also to represent favorably; gratify by falsification. When we just smile and move on, or go silent and move on when inside we are hurt by being ignored or unheard are we actually flattering by representing the situation as a favorable (*smile) situation, or gratifying by falsification (people - pleasing) - instead of saying the truth of the matter --ARE WE FLATTERING?

I never saw it that way until today.

The world tells us to be polite. It tells us as women that we should be nice and we will earn the favor and recognition we seek from others. BUT the bible tells us that if we want true favor we will speak the truth!!!

With love,

Tina & Starla Smith ( Sisters-in-Law and BFF's)