Tag Archives: Life

I Got Nothing

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Life has been a bit crazy, computer at work was fried due to lightening, boys have basketball camp all week, I have a stack of books to read that are a mile high, my depression has picked a real yucky time to creep in (is there ever a good time?), and I am packing for a trip I leave for on Saturday.

I Got Nothing. Blogging may be light this week and next, as I find my normal.

When I return from my trip, I will be teaching a bible study that rotates around the theme of having a healthy fear of God. When you fear God, you don’t need to fear anything. I will give you one guess where Satan is attacking me. It is a yuck four letter word (F _ _ r).

Ah well enough about me, what I did want to share is the new cool scrolly thing on my right side bar? MckLinky is so smart. Brent developed this to help hold all the blog badges we seem to collect. Personally I love this and can think of many ways this cool scrolly thing can be used(like my official name I gave it, ha).

Click here to learn how you can have one to (no worries it is free).

Ok that’s it. Back to crazy life, will check in when I catch my breath.

Five Things to Teach Your Kids – Part 5 (last one)

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parentsI began a series on the five basic principles that should be taught in the home. These principles can only be reinforced in church or school, but the model of what they learn comes from home.

First principle was the principle of love
Second principle of justice.
Third is the principle of respect.
Fourth is the principle of honesty.
Lastly, and possibly the most important is the principal of forgiveness.

I have mentioned before that the Lord likes to teach me in object lessons. I can not teach or share in a devotion or even on this blog if I have not had a taste of the struggle. I think that is one of the more difficult things about sharing God’s word, in order for you to really believe what you are saying God makes it real by allowing you to go through that struggle a little bit. Forgiveness has been a struggle I have experience for over a year. I never knew I struggled with this or at least the Lord allowed me to see some hidden areas of my heart.

Almost a year to today I shared with you my journey to forgiveness from the pain caused by a pastor. I wish I could tell you after sharing that post all was forgiven and life goes on. As I shared at the end, “I will be the first to tell you [forgiveness] can be a difficult journey;” and I am here to say it is STILL a difficult journey. Satan took that situation and sifted my heart. This has nothing to do with what happened it had to do with me letting go of my feelings of anger, disappointment, and hurt.

Then the Lord even brought it in closer. Just yesterday I had two incidents that really hurt my feelings, left me crying. Even though I did not do any wrong in either situation, the Lord said I just need you to forgive. You know what I said, “Father there are so many other areas I struggle with, why do we need to add to the list!!” The Lord quietly reminded me, “Daughter so you realize that I am with you and only through ME can you forgive, not on your own power.”

I ask you is there ever a human relationship that a time does not come when you have to say, “I’m sorry.”

You hear the saying that you should forgive and forget, I suggest you should forgive and forgo judgment and retribution. There are just some things in life you can not forget!

How often do you forgive?

Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?”

Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times. (Matt 18:21-22)

How do our children learn to forgive? By watching their parents forgive. I had great examples from my parents, I hurt my parents pretty bad in college. In return all I ever felt was love and acceptance. So easily the reaction could have been “this is not how I raised you,” they had justification for their anger. But honestly I don’t even think it entered their mind. So today I am stand as the last person on this earth to withhold forgiveness from anyone and the only reason I know I can do that is because it was modeled for me.
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This concludes five things to teach your kids IN THE HOME! Yes these principles overlap each other, but each one carry its own weight. Your kids can not be taught these principles in school or EVEN in church. These have to come directly from parents or caregivers. We as a society are struggling because some of these principles are not being reinforced. Parenting is the hardest job anyone will ever have; one moment it will bring you to your knees before the Lord and have you singing from the mountain tops the next.

Deuteronomy 4:9-10 Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them. Remember the day you stood before the Lord your God at Horeb, when he said to me, “Assemble the people before me to hear my words so that they may learn to revere me as long as they live in the land and may teach them to their children.”

Mistaken Identity at the Hair Dressers

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How many times have you been mistaken for someone else? Well this happened to me a few days ago. I called to make a hair appointment to get my hair trimmed and the gray my sons give me covered. I have not been to my hair dresser in awhile because when I was last in Phoenix visiting my sister she surprised me with a “Day of Beauty” with her hair dresser. It was a nice surprise so therefore it has been several months since I have seen mine.

The last time I visited with my hair dresser she was overjoyed that I brought her a tons of books to read. She, like me, is an avid reader and was beyond ecstatic to know I was a book reviewer. During that last appointment we were able to share our faith with each other and how God works in our lives. It was a neat blessing. And I left with a good feeling….or so I thought.

Fast forward to this month, l called to make an appointment excited because this will be my first official outing since the recovery of my little procedure. The receptionist asked what time I would like to come in and I told her I was flexible since I had work off, then she asked me my name.

I was immediately put on hold and I sat there wondering what was going on. My hair dresser came to the phone and asked what time I would like to come in. I said, “well the receptionist mentioned you had 10:45 open.” And then my hair dresser said, “now Laurel you know we have had problems in the past, are you sure you can make that time?” I sat there STUNNED, I had never missed an appointment, I did cancel once but gave plenty of notice. I was speechless. The only words I could utter was, “but I am the one who gave you the books.”

“OH!” my hairdresser replied, “I think they have you mixed up with someone else, and by the way I am LOVING the books.” The appointment was made, but I hung up shaken. The one person you DON’T want to tick off is your hair dresser!

This was definitely a case of mistaken identity that could have made me look bad….literally!

Question, have you ever been mistaken for someone else?