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The 7-Day Doubt Diet Day 4: Sometimes Worry Makes Me Wonder

September 12, 2011 By 4 Comments

If you haven’t signed up, don’t put it off – YOU are worth it. You’ll need your own copy to read  (its free HERE) as I won’t copy each day’s entire devotion. We’ll go through the devotion each day together, sharing scripture, encouragement, doubts, fears, and insecurities that have taken up residence in our hearts. If this is your first time joining us, I want you to know I do not have it all together and I have faced doubts and insecurities my entire life.  We are in this together  it’s a “sharing” thing.

 Day 4: Sometimes Worry Makes Me Wonder
Taken in part from Chapter 9 of A Confident Heart
Food for thought: She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” (Luke 10:40 NIV)

I don’t know about you but I always have plenty of things to worry about.  Like Renee mentions in today’s devotion when I get worryed and overwhelmed I feel like God is not listening.  The past 4 years I have struggled a lot – wondering if God heard my prayers.  At times, I questioned his love for me and I felt like I couldn’t trust Him.  I worried, I wondered, and for a season I got mad at God. I’ve included a part of my story below as a testimony of Gods faithfulness.

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In January 2007 my 3 year old daughter was diagnosed with type I diabetes.  Morgan was barely 3 and Caleb was only 5 months old.  This brought on a new level of worry.  For example, Morgan’s blood sugar, checking her blood, counting the carbs in her food properly, shots and so much more.  We we afraid for Caleb, so we’d check his blood sugar periodically.

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A couple of months later in April my daddy was diagnosed with Brain Cancer.  A very aggressive cancer that grows like an octopus into your brain.  No cure, terminal, the only hope of extending his life would have been surgery.  Daddy’s tumor was inoperable.  He was given less than 2 months, God gave us 10 months.

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We also had 3 houses during this time.  One that we lived in and two spec houses that sat for 2 years before they sold.  For two years we had 3 mortgages.

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My daddy passed away in February.  Then, the day after his funeral my husband lost his job.   The company he worked for had a merger and shut down his entire division.

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At this point, I really questioned God.  The day after my dad’s funeral Gary loses his job, and we have 3 houses?  I didn’t feel like God was listening.  In fact, I felt like he had turned his back on me for a time.  I didn’t understand why he had allowed so much?

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It didn’t happen overnight but slowly God has put me back together.  It’s been a process that I have had to walk through.  I had to completley surrender every part of my life to Him.  Had I not, I shudder to think where my wondering may have lead me.  I don’t know where I heard this, but it’s stuck with me.  When I feel overwhelmed about the future, it’s because God hasn’t given me the grace to face that day yet.  I look back at what God has brought me through and I know he carried me.  God gives us the measure of grace when we need it, but not a moment too soon.

On Day 4, Renee shares a season in her life that left her feeling overwhelmed, fearful, out of fuel, full of worry, and doubt that God even cared.   She said she secretly felt that if she stopped worrying about everybody and everything God would too.  She was over-committed and had become weary serving God instead of seeking God.  Then one day as she was reading about Martha and Mary in her bible from the book of Luke she realized that Martha had become weary in all of her worrying and began to doubt that God cared for her.

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A message from Renee
Excerpt The 7-day Doubt Diet Day 4:  Sometimes Worry makes you Wonder

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. (Phil. 4:6–7 NLT)
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First Peter 5:7 tells us: “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you” (NLT).

When life weighs us down this week, let’s commit to:

  1. Stop worrying—Press the pause button on our consuming concerns.
  2. Start praying—Talk to God about all we’re doing and ask Him if there’s anything we need to cut back so we have time to seek Him as much as we serve Him and others.
  3. Keep thanking God—Thank God for what He’s done in the past and will do in the future. This helps us remember how good He is at being God.

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Doubt Diet Tip: Lose the weight of worry by “giving all your worries and cares to the Lord because He cares for you!” Write your concerns on an index card and give them to Jesus. I have a tabletop cross by my bedside where I lay my “concerns card.” Maybe you could get one too. Then, when you start worrying, go back and write your worries on your card, and commit once again to cast your cares upon the Lord.

Download More Peace-Giving Promises
The 7-day Doubt Diet is a free devotional Companion to A Confident Heart by Renee Swope.

© 2011 by Renee Swope with Revell Publishing. All rights reserved.
Filed Under: Encouragment, Keepin' It Real

It’s been 10 years since 9/11: We will Never Forget.

September 11, 2011 By Leave a Comment

 

 

Most of us probably remember exactly where we were when we found out about the tradegies of 9/11.  We want to thank God that our country is free, and to pray for those who experienced so much loss that day.  May be never forget.



 

The Eleventh Of September

We mourn their loss this day this year
Those now with God, no danger near

So many loved ones left do stand
Comforting loss throughout our land

My heart goes out to those who do
No one can fathom what they view

I firmly pray for peace of mind
Dear God please help each one to find 

And to our soldiers now at war
God guide above, at sea, on shore

They are the best, I have no doubt
Our country’s pride, complete, devout

The finest force you’ll ever see
All freedom grown through liberty 

One final thought comes clear to me
For what must live in infamy

Absolutely – We’ll Remember
The Eleventh – Of September

©2002 Roger J. Robicheau
“It (The Eleventh of September) was read before the United States Senate by Senator John Kerry on September 4, 2002, and is now a permanent part of our country’s history.  Officially it was Congressional Record Article 27 of 53, page S8196.”  The Poetic Plumber

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On Monday We E-mailed Jokes
Author Unknown

On Monday we emailed jokes.
On Tuesday we did not.

On Monday we thought that we were secure.
On Tuesday we learned better.

On Monday we were talking about heroes as being athletes.
On Tuesday we relearned who our heroes are.

On Monday we were irritated that our rebate checks had not arrived.
On Tuesday we gave money away to people we had never met.

On Monday there were people fighting against praying in schools.
On Tuesday you would have been hard pressed to find a school where someone was not praying.

On Monday people argued with their kids about picking up their room.
On Tuesday the same people could not get home fast enough to hug their kids.

On Monday people were upset that they had to wait 6 minutes in a fast food drive through line.
On Tuesday people didn’t care about waiting up to 6 hours to give blood for the dying.

On Monday we waved our flags signifying our cultural diversity.
On Tuesday we waved only the American flag.

On Monday there were people trying to separate each other by race, sex, color and creed.
On Tuesday they were all holding hands.

On Monday we were men or women, black or white, old or young, rich or poor, gay or straight, Christian or non-Christian.
On Tuesday we were Americans.

On Monday politicians argued about budget surpluses.
On Tuesday grief stricken they sang ‘God Bless America’.

On Monday the President was going to Florida to read to children.
On Tuesday he returned to Washington to protect our children.On Monday we had families.
On Tuesday we had orphans.

On Monday people went to work as usual,
On Tuesday they died.

On Monday people were fighting the 10 commandments on government property.
On Tuesday the same people all said ‘God help us all’ while thinking ‘Thou shall not kill’. 

It is sadly ironic how it takes horrific events to place things into perspective, but it has. The lessons learned that week, the things we have taken for granted, the things that have been forgotten or overlooked, hopefully will never be forgotten again.  Author Unknown

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Filed Under: Keepin' It Real

7-day Doubt Diet Day 3: Trigger Points #Renee Swope

September 11, 2011 By 2 Comments

 

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If you haven’t signed up, don’t put it off – YOU are worth it. You’ll need your own copy to read (its free HERE) as I won’t copy each day’s entire devotion. We’ll go through the devotion each day together, sharing scripture, encouragement, doubts, fears, and insecurities that have taken up residence in our hearts. If this is your first time joining us, I want you to know I do not have it all together and I have faced doubts and insecurities my entire life.  We are in this together  it’s a “sharing” thing.
 

 

  Food for thought: The LORD turned to him and said, “Go in the strength you have .… Am I not sending you?” (Judges 6:14 NIV)

 

On Day 3 Renee beings by asking, “Maybe you’ve sensed God leading you to participate in a ministry, but doubt has convinced you that you’re not smart enough or gifted enough. Perhaps you wanted to have kids, and now you have a family but you doubt you really have what it takes to be a good mom. Or maybe you’ve wanted to change jobs and now have the opportunity to do just that. But you don’t want to go because you’re afraid of failing at something new.

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Then she turns to a story in the bible about Gideon, from Judges chapter 6.  His doubts and insecurities told him that he wasn’t anointed, God didn’t call him, there was a mistake he would fail.  As you read the chapter you see that he begins to make progress as he changes his thoughts to reflect God’s thoughts.

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Then, life happened and Gideon faced a conflict and defeat.  He didn’t believe that he was the warrior that God said he was.  Instead he believed,“But how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family” (Judges 6:15).  The angel of the Lord said he was a great warrior and Gideon tel  Why would he struggle when the angel of the Lord is standing in front of him?  His past spoke louder than the promise of his future.

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Hurts, insecurities and broken dreams from our past have a powerful influence over our thought life.  We have a filter in our mind that has been shaped by our life experience.  Everthing we hear has to go through that filter before it reaches our ears.  Recognizing those things that trigger our emotions is the focus of todays devotion.

 

I began to ask myself what negative emotions do I experience the most.  It didn’t take but a second for insecurity to raise it’s ugly head.

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Those of you who don’t know me, I am six foot tall.   When I was a little girl people called me BIG BIRD, and it wasn’t meant as a compliment.  I desperatly wanted to shrink so no one would notice me .  I was so tall for my age people would say things like, “My, you are tall.  Do you think you’ve stopped growing yet.”  “You are two heads taller than so and so, aw she’s so cute look at her and her cute little feet isn’t she a doll.”

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At school on picture day I always knew what was coming, “Oh dear, honey you need to get in the very back you are so much taller than everyone else, even the boys.  My Lord, that’s right keep backing up.  Just as far back as you can go.”

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What good is a 6ft tall teenager who doesn’t have an athletic bone in her body.  I can’t count the number of times I’ve heard,”I bet you play basketball don’t you.  You’re so tall, of course you do how silly of me to ask.”  I hated PE class, especially when we played basketball.  My PE coach in Middle school was particuarly hard on me.   One day as we were playing basketball,she screamed at me for missing a shot, “Knight (my maiden name) you should be better than that.  You are 6 foot tall how did you miss it.”

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I got the ultimate confidence booster when I was in the 10th grade.  I made the varsity cheerleading squad in the 9th grade.  I had hoped that I’d graduate from BIG BIRD status to one of the cool girls.  I remember walking into class after the bell rang and seeing a picture of a girl drawn on the desk in a cheerleading uniform.  Her legs looked like a giraffe – with the words “how did she make it” scribbled out to the side.  Yes, they were referring to me and I began to ask myself the same question.  The next year I didn’t even try out.

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Now, I’m all grown up and you know what, I hate sports.  I haven’t thought about those situations in years.   I don’t have to they are engrained in me as truth now.

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Like Renee, my insecurities and fears have kept me from trying things.  You want me to go hiking, no thanks.  A climbing wall – fantastic everyone below can laugh at me while I’m suspended in midair with nothing but ropes and my long legs tangled in the rope.  When my kids ask my to play basketball or softball – I start to panic inside.  No!!  I don’t want to.  I don’t want them to see how bad I am.  My husband played golf in college. (Yes, I married an athlete – good in every sport) He would love if we golfed together.  In December we’ll celebrate our 15th anniversary and guess what, my doubts have convinced me not to try.

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In Chapter 1 of ”A Confident Heart,”  Renee shares what God revealed to her after he spoke to her about her “shadow of doubt”.  She said, “ As I stood there in my bathroom, I knew I needed to get honest with God too. I needed more than just a quick fix. I wanted to figure out what triggered my self-doubts.”

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Damaged emotions and insecurities from our past have a powerful influence over how we see ourselves today.  Do you see a pattern of doubts or insecurity that is rooted in your past. 

   

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A Message from Renee
Excerpt from The 7-day Doubt Diet:  Day 3

Conflict, criticism, and comparison are three triggers that lead me into that yucky place of uncertainty……

When I find myself standing in the shadow of doubt, I ask Jesus to show me what triggered my emotions. Then I process that trigger point through the filter of God’s perspective and promises. I ask Him to show me what lie I believe that needs to be replaced with His truth. I then ask Him to change the way I’m thinking, which changes the way I’m feeling, and eventually transforms the way I’m living.

Over time, I’ve learned to rely on God’s power to defeat my insecurities, which has empowered me to fulfill His calling on my life. And so can you! God calls us to live beyond the shadows our doubts, but it is not always about what He wants us to do as much as it is about what He wants to do in us as we learn to completely depend on Him.

Doubt Diet Tip:In the same way emotional triggers make us want to eat a half-gallon of ice cream or a whole bag of chips, we have emotional triggers that cause us to doubt ourselves. Ask God to show you your most common triggers and help you process them through the filter of His truth.

Filed Under: Inspirational Stories, Keepin' It Real

7-day Doubt Diet Day 2: Beat Up or Built Up?

September 9, 2011 By 4 Comments
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If you haven’t signed up, don’t put it off – YOU are worth it. You’ll need your own copy to read (And its free HERE) as I won’t copy each day’s entire devotion. We’ll go through the devotion each day together, sharing scripture, encouragement, doubts, fears, and insecurities that have taken up residence in our hearts. If this is your first time joining us, I want you to know I do not have it all together and I have faced doubts and insecurities my entire life.  We are in this together  it’s a “sharing” thing.

Day 2: Taken in part from Chapter 6

Food for thought: What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? (Rom. 8:31 NIV)

Yep, happens to me all the time. I won’t even be awake good yet, before discouragement tries to snuggle up next to me and hold me down. Not physically, but emotionally and spiritually. Do you ever wake up like that? Lately I have been so overwhelmed. There is not enough of me to go around.  I’ll tell God – I can’t do all of this it’s too much. Having so many responsibilities leaves me feeling like I am barely treading water and I’m nose deep. One more drop of water and I’m going down.   In case you haven’t gotten your copy of the 7-day Doubt Diet, Renee describes waking up feeling much the same way.
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Then, Renee’s alarm went off to the song “God is in Control,” by Twila Paris. As she listened to the word of the song, truth began to take over.  Truth says things like there is no time for fear, instead it’s a time for faith and determination.  To hold on to God’s word hidden in her heart instead of the thoughts that wanted to overtake her mind.  Then, a timely reminder……. God was in control.
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God uses his word to speak truth into our soul because his light dispels darkness.  When his word is spoken fear has to leave, doubt has to go away, insecurity has to pack up it’s bags.  The only way they have access to our minds is if we open the door and let them in.  Of course we’d never do it intentionally, right?  If someone came knocking on our door and we knew they were coming to harm us what would we do?  Would we open the door, lay out the red carpet grab a diet coke and chill?  Of course not.  I’d grab my babies and high tail it as far away as I could in the opposite direction.
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But my mind, not so much.  The part that has always been so hard for to grasp is that it’s already mine.  He’s already given me peace, He’s already given me strength, He’s already given me a measure of faith, in fact He’s already given me everything I need to face today.  When I hear that I want to scream WHERE?  WHERE IS IT?  Then, I read the next sentence.  But it won’t happen just because it’s possible.
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Well I think we’ve pretty much determined we’ve all got issues.  So, what’s the verdict?  What do we do if it won’t happen just because it’s possible.  What do you do when doubt whispers in your ear.  It’s your turn to share, remember it’s a “sharing thing.” Do you ever wake up and feel discouragement taking over your thoughts?  What about doubts…….do you worry like me?
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I’m assuming most of you have not read A Confident Heart .  Renee has a testimony behind her message.  She’s been there and walked through many years of doubt, insecurity, worry and fears.  She understands and shares very personal stories from her life.  I just wanted to share with you because I want to learn from someone who has fought the battle and has come out victorious on the other side.
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Below is an excerpt from Day 2: of the 7-Day Doubt Diet..
We have to take action. Just as she had to tune her radio to encouraging music, we need to get intentional about tuning our thoughts to God’s thoughts toward us, every day..
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But it won’t happen just because it’s possible.

But it won’t happen just because it’s possible

But it won’t happen just because it’s possible..

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She referred to two different kinds of thoughts AM (Against Me) or FM (For Me).  I am starting to think that Renee snuck in my mind one day to hang out and listen.  I can guarantee you, that AM thoughts occur more frequently than FM.  I can be so hard on myself.  Thoughts don’t just swirl around in our mind aimlessly – thoughts create some kind of action.
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When thoughts and feelings of doubt come:
  • Stop and ask God for His perspective.
  • Compare your thoughts to His thoughts, reflected in Scripture. Do they match?
  • If not, look for a promise in God’s Word to replace the lie that has filled your heart with doubt.
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Doubt Diet Tip: When you go on a regular diet, it’s helpful to start a food journal to keep track of what you’re eating. That way you can notice unhealthy habits and find healthy alternatives. This week, let’s start a “thought” journal to keep track of what we’re thinking so we can identify unhealthy “against me” thoughts and replace them with healthy God is “for me” thoughts.  (Kasey here – I am going to do this.  Getting the words out of our heads onto a piece of paper takes the delusion out.  It also makes us purposely stop and think of God’s truth.
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If you haven’t signed up for your own copy of the FREE 7-day Doubt Diet you can here as I am not posting the entire devotion.  You know copyrights and all that.  It’s something that I know I will keep to refer back to when discouragement wants to move in.
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Personal Note from Kasey
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I ended yesterday’s devotion with a prayer request for my family.  If you missed it, you can read it here.
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So………..what happened? I had no idea when we started this devotion that God would be calling me back to a place all to familiar.   My husband is a pharmaceutical rep and his main drug just went generic.  We woke this morning anxiously awaiting the call from corporate to find out if his job will be eliminated.  The last time we waited on the same kind of phone call, it was a little over three years ago the day after my fathers funeral.  My heart screams with doubt – we’ve already been through this twice in the last 8 years, you have got to be kidding me.
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At the same time, I’ve heard God gently whisper in my ear – remember where I’ve brought you from.  I did not forsake you then and I won’t now.  He’s calling me to take HIS hand and trust His heart.  I hear you God, I really do……..but to be 100% honest I’d rather you just answer my prayer that he won’t lose his job.
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Fast forward a little while and the phone call has come and gone.  Guess what, it wasn’t the answer I had hoped for?  It’s not the answer I want.  I don’t have a choice, God has a plan and a purpose that is far beyond my ability to understand.  As soon as I heard Gary answer the phone I knew by the tone of his voice.  Thoughts began to flood my mind: fear, anxiety, worry, doubt, disappointment, did I already say fear?  Then, I started to pray and as I did God began to remind me of his faithfulness to my family.  No matter how bad it’s been, and trust me it has been B  A  D, he’s always taken care of us.  You know what?  God has given us peace.  A peace I can’t explain, even anticipation wondering what God is doing in our life.  He’s up to something.
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So, here I am again back at the place where this all started.  To the place where I started couponing in the first place.  I don’t know what the future holds, but I know who holds my future.  If this devotion isn’t for anyone else, I know for sure it’s for me.  My journey to A Confident Heart has begun.
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Filed Under: Encouragment, Keepin' It Real

7-day Doubt Diet: Don’t Throw Away Your Confidence

September 9, 2011 By 4 Comments
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Winner of a copy of A Confident Heart – melissa SAVINGMONEY09@LIVE.COM
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Before we get started delving into our own doubts and insecurities together – I want you to know I’m just like you.”  I know I mentioned yesterday but if this is your first day joining this is meant to be a “sharing thing.”  So, before everyone runs off to your prayer closet to read by yourselves hang around for a while and fellowship.  Yesterday we laid down the foundation we’re going to build from.  Here’s day one, Are you ready to take God’s hand and trust His heart?

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Day 1: Don’t Throw Away Your Confidence
Taken in part from Chapter 1 and 61 1

Did ya’ll totally relate to Renee’s story?  (Get your free devotion here.) I can totally relate.  Several years ago, a friend was helping me clean out the playroom.  We were on a serious mission to get rid of junk – if anything looked like a Happy Meal Toy, part of a toy we coudn’t find or something totally random it was going in the trash.  Fast forward a couple of weeks, we have a blow up bed that we set up when our families visit.  Guess what?  One of those “totally random” pieces that we threw away.  Well, not so much……..it was the valve.  (We had to buy a new one)  Much like Renee’s example, I thought that little piece was insignificant and threw it away without a second thought.  It may have been small compared to the size of the rest of the bed however that valve determines the beds future.  Without it, the blow up bed was just a flat rubber rectangle.
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Renee heard God speak to her that she tosses her confidence away the same way she tossed that piece of rubber away without a second thought….. What about you?  Ouch…..Guilty as charged.  I too, have thrown away my confidence more times than I can count without realizing what was happening.  If you haven’t received day one yet of the devotion, the rubber piece was the power button to the remote control.
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It doesn’t take much, it could be one word from a loved one that triggers insecurity.  Everything Renee listed – the worry the creeps in and says I’m not good enough, no matter what I do I’ll never measure up. Then worry changes to fear – fear of the disappointment that is sure to follow, fear that I’m going to mess up, never finish what I started or lose something   Fear, worry, disappointment, insecurity they all lead me to one place, the road of self-doubt.1
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Then, when Renee said,” I see a pattern in my thinking that led to the pattern of my doubting.”  It hit me, I do the same thing every time I go to Chattanooga, or Georgia to visit my mom.  I usually take the same route without thinking  about it.  I just hit autopilot and go.  Sure there are other ways, but they aren’t familiar as least I KNOW what to expect.  I do the same when fear, insecurity,worry, disappointment whatever you want to call it begins to creep.  When someone says something that hurts me, or I feel rejected what do I do?
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What about if I make up my mind one morning determined that I’m going to change everyone’s sheets and somehow life happened and I never got started.  I know what emotions are coming.   Do you?  I know that even though I home schooled my kids, washed a load of clothes AND put them away, worked, then cooked dinner it’s not those accomplishments that my mind surrenders to – it’s the one thing I didn’t do.  I’ll tell myself I’ll do better tomorrow, why can’t I be more organized, if I would just stay focused then I’d get everything done.
I know myself well enough that - no matter how much I do I always think I can do it better next time.1
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The Challenge:  Recognize when we start turning down that familiar path of self doubt to TURN AROUND!  Just like a GPS God is whispering in our ears Recalculating turn right in .8miles on Promise Lane follow it to your destination, A Confident Heart.
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  1. Recognize the power I give self doubt.
  2. Stand up to it and claim the confidence God has already given me.
  3. Pray and ask God to show me when I turn around to toss my confidence in the can.
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The following is an excerpt from The 7-day Doubt Diet:
When you start a diet or physical training plan, experts recommend you complete a Body Mass Index analysis to determine if you are overweight, underweight, or in a healthy weight range.
Food for thought: So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. Hebrews 10:35-36, (NIV)
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“I’ve created a FREE “Doubt Index Analysis” to help you identify your most common doubts, see how they affect you and determine just how much self-doubt could be weighing you down by. There is a link to download here.”  Renee Swope

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A Message from Renee:
“Please don’t get discouraged if your score reveals that self-doubt is weighing you down more than you realized. I used to check “always” on all of them. But I didn’t want to stay there, and I don’t want you to either. That is why I wrote my book A Confident Heart , and why I’m offering “The 7-day Doubt Diet”- a week’s worth of devotions from my book for FREE.”
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By the way I scored 146 on the Doubt Index Analysis.  How did you do?
154 – 110: Self-doubt comes and goes for you. When it’s present, it keeps you from all God has for you.

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A Personal Prayer Request from Kasey
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God is calling me to walk this journey out, please keep my family in your prayers today.  My husband is a pharmaceutical rep and his main drug just went generic.  To make a long story short – we’re waiting on a phone call today to find out his job will be eliminated.  My heart screams with doubt – we’ve already been through this twice in the last 8 years, you have got to be kidding me.  At the same time, I’ve heard God gently whisper in my ear all day – remember where I’ve brought you from.  I did not forsake you then and I won’t now.  He’s calling me to take HIS hand and trust His heart.
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I hear you God, I really do……..but to be 100% honest I’d rather you just answer my prayer that he won’t lose his job.  Why do I automatically trust more in the security of a job, than the security of God’s promises?
Filed Under: Encouragment, Keepin' It Real Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Are you ready to take God’s hand and trust His heart?

September 8, 2011 By 7 Comments

Chapter 1:  Discovering the Shadow of my Doubt
So don’t throw away your confidence, you will be richly rewarded.  You need to persevere, so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised you. Hebrews 10:35-36
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Tomorrow (9/9) we will start Day 1 of the 7-day Doubt Diet. If you haven’t signed up, don’t put it off -  YOU are worth it.   You’ll need your own copy to read (And its free HERE) as I won’t copy each day’s entire devotion.  We’ll go through the devotion each day together, sharing scripture, encouragement, doubts, fears, and insecurities that have taken up residence in our hearts.  The 7-Day Doubt Diet includes seven foundational truths from different chapters of A Confident Heart.
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Girls, before we get started I want ya’ll to know I’m just like you.  Okay, so I teach coupon workshops and update the blog – none of this happened because of me.  In fact, somehow God opened doors in spite of me.  I never wanted to coupon, and I never ever wanted to speak in public or even share my heart online like I’m doing right now.  A part of me wants to go jump in the bed right now and pull the covers over my head.  I’ve been putting this off all day.  Why?  Doubts have crept into my mind and “overshadowed” (as Renee says) what I know God has asked me to do.
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Things like:
  • Have I lost my ever loving mind?  Why on earth would I voluntarily put myself in such a vulnerable position?
  • No one’s going to read this – there will be no comments – nothing on facebook – no tweets – nothing.
  • I’m also afraid you’ll think I have it all together and ask why it is I’m sharing the devotion.
  • Or -  those that know me and know things that I’ve faced will remember every failure and think I’m not “good enough” or ”spiritual enough” to be leading this devotion with you.
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This shadow is huge, it’s distorted – it’s not truth.
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Renee’s story of how God opened her eyes to the “shadow of her doubts,” really opened my eyes. (and ears!)  The list I shared above is so small compared to the doubts that swirl around in my mind.  Doubt, fear, and insecurities have walked beside me for a long time - so long that I no longer recognize them for what they are.  In fact, they are as familiar as old friends. When no one understands, doubt whispers in my ear in agreement.  Oh, and fear never leaves my side! At least I can count on it being here.  When I am hurt by someone I love, insecurity reaches out to hold my hand.  Just like the shadow in the image above – it’s not truth.  My doubts are huge and distort the truth.

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As soon as I began to read,  A Confident Heart, the lies I had accepted as truths started to look different.  I thought the doubts were just a part of me, a part that I was waiting for Jesus to one day walk by and zap out of me.  Sure I’ve heard messages my entire life about trusting in God’s promises and not allowing my circumstances to define me. I thought that meant one day I could trust, one day I’d be confident, one day I’d feel equipped.  One day…….the timing was God’s decision I was waiting on him.  He’s the one who would  choose when one day would become THE DAY.
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Right?  You’ve been there haven’t you?  Then during the waiting I begin to doubt that God is going to zap me with confidence.  You know, he’s mad at me.  I messed up last week.  I didn’t honor my husband, my kids got on my ever-last nerve, that had to be it.  Since God is perfect and is not a man who can lie, then it has to be me.
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As I continued to read chapter one, there were phrases that jumped off the page at me – when did I become so hard on myself – what triggers my doubts – God doesn’t want me to live in the constant cycle of self doubt.  Fantastic – but I don’t know how!  Sometimes, I don’t believe His word is true for me.
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The next paragraph I am going to quote from the book I underlined, circled and highlighted twice in yellow and pink.  Renee says that “we’ll talk about the struggles, uncertainties, and fears we all face and how we can learn to actively trust God’s heart as we process our never-ending thoughts, our always-changing emotions, and our oh-so-busy and often confusing lives through the transforming truth of God’s Word.  We will find our heart’s confidence in Christ as we learn how to rely on the power of His promises in our everyday lives.”
The words – we we learn how to rely spoke clearly to my heart.  God wants me to trust him but unless I rely on the power of his promises then doubt will scream louder in my ear until doubt silences Gods promises.

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At the end of Chapter 1 there are several review questions – it’s up to you, but I’m going to get somewhere by myself with no cell phone, computer or children so that I can hear the still small voice of my Father longing to draw me close to him – waiting for me to turn to him.  This will be uncomfortable for me, I don’t like to be alone where my thoughts can go into overdrive without distractions.  I’m serious ya’ll, I even read emails in the shower on my phone.  I don’t go to bed until I am ready to pass out – why? If I’m not distracted then I might think too much.  It might hurt too much, I will think about my precious daddy who I miss so much.  I want to avoid the refiner’s fire and the potter’s wheel!
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The God of all hope is calling you out of the shadow of your doubts so you can live with a confident heart! Are you ready to let His Word change the way you think, which will determine the way you feel and eventually transform the way you live (Rom. 12:2)? Renee Swope
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Tomorrow ~ Day 1 of the 7-day Doubt Diet.

Then I will know that He is the Lord.  When I hope in him I won’t be disappointed. Isaiah 49:23 Won’t you join me?  For the next 7 days lets be honest with ourselves, get real about the thoughts that plague our minds and the doubts that strangle our confidence. .
Filed Under: Encouragment, Keepin' It Real

It’s almost here! The day we’ve been waiting for.

September 7, 2011 By Leave a Comment

 

Girls, I’m so excited it’s finally here. We will start our 7 day Doubt Diet Devotion series tomorrow,  Thursday September 8th.

We aren’t talking about diet as in food, we are talking about replacing our lack of self-confidence with lasting God-confidence as we learn how to live in the power of His promises every day. Click here to get your free copy of the 7 day Doubt Diet Devotion.  Don’t forget to set your timer on your coffee maker.  The first days devotion will be waiting for you in the morning.

Giveaway Reminder:

Don’t forget about the early giveaway for a free copy of Renee’s book, A Confident Heart.
Have you entered yet?  No worries, the giveaway is open until Wednesday Sept 7th at 11:59pm
Click here to enter.

Filed Under: Encouragment, Keepin' It Real Tagged With: , , , , ,

Giveaway & Reminder: New Devotion Series Begins 9/8

September 5, 2011 By 29 Comments

Girls, I am so excited that this week is finally here. We were planning on starting our 7 day Doubt Diet Devotion series tomorrow but have postponed until Thursday September 8th.

Renee emailed me today, to give us another copy of her book to give to one of our readers before we start our devotion together.   I think she’s as excited as we are:)

How to enter:

  • Go to Renee’s website here and sign up to receive the free 7-day Doubt Diet devotion.
  • Leave a comment below letting us know that you signed up.
  • Already signed up? No problem leave us a comment letting us know.

The giveaway will end Wednesday night at 11:59pm est.  Open to residents of the US.  The winner will have 48 hours to respond after the announcement before a new winner is chosen.

Dates to Remember:

  • Thursday, September 8th - The first day of our devotion series, we’ll start with an overview of ch1)
  • Friday, September 9th – Giveaway opens up for entries. (details later this week)
  • Wednesday, September 14th at 9:30pm – Live facebook chatt with the Renee Swope,  author of A Confident Heart.
  • Friday, September 16th – 4 Winners Announced copy of A Confident Heart.

Join us as we share our hearts and encourage one another.  Don’t forget to sign up here to receive the free devotion and chapter 1.  Then, leave a comment for your entry in the giveaway.

Filed Under: Inspirational Stories, Keepin' It Real Tagged With: , , ,

Labor Day: Did you know?

September 5, 2011 By Leave a Comment
New York, 1900. “Labor Day parade crowd, Main Street.” Detroit Publishing Company Source: Shorpy
Labor Day is dedicated to celebrating the achievements of the American Worker.  First celebrated in New York City on September 5th 1882 by a parade of 10,000 workers.  Founded when many in America worked 16 hour days in harsh work environments.  Labor Day became a national holiday in 1894 after President Grover Cleveland signed the bill into law.  Interestingly enough he was a staunch opponent of organized labor groups but pushed Labor Day through congress to stop riots that were breaking out across the US.

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Do you know your Labor Day food Factoids?  Take this fun 6 question quiz first.
The average score is 30%. How’d you do?

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1.  Most people consider Labor Day an American Holiday, instead it has origins in Canada stemming from labor disputes in 1870.
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2.  It’s the 3rd most popular grilling holiday.
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3.  According to the National Hot Dog and Saugsage Council, hot dog season begins on Memorial day and ends on Labor Day.?
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4.  Waffle House national food chain opened its first outpost on a Labor Day
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5.  If you are from the south you’ve probably heard it’s the last day to wear white.
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  • Wear nude shoes instead – they make you look thinner and longer
  • Accessorize – the new Winter White handbags or a scarf.
  • Layers – white is okay to wear with heavier pieces like sweaters and jackets
6.  According to the U.S Census ?
  • Unemployment rate held at 9.1% August 2011
  • 153.2 million people age 16 and up make up the us workforce (July 2011)
  • Average commute is 25.1 minutes
  • 3.2 million communters travel 90 or more minutes to work each day
  • 16.5 million Americans leave for work between midnight at 6am
  • 5.9 million people work from home
7.  Where do Americans work?
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  • Teachers: 3,039,523
  • Janitors or building cleaners: 1,478,204
  • Hairdressers, stylists or cosmetologists: 395,503
  • Bus drivers: 265,429
  • Computer operators: 101,889
  • Bus drivers: 265,429
  • Bakers: 117,405
  • Telemarketers: 55,733
  • Telephone operators: 32,394
  • Actors: 10,980

8.  Healthcare is the most rapidly growing industry with the highest demand for new employees.

    Source: Bureau of Labor Statics News Release 9/2

    Filed Under: Holiday, Keepin' It Real Tagged With: , , , ,

    Insecure or Confident? Kicking Doubts and Fears to the Curb!

    September 2, 2011 By Leave a Comment

    You think I’m Insecure……….

     

    ………Maybe you know exactly what I’m talking about. Perhaps you have prayed since you were a little girl to be a mother, and here you are with kids, doubting you have what it takes to be a good mom. Or maybe you’ve sensed God calling you to serve Him in a way that requires steps of faith, but insecurity has convinced you that you’re not smart enough or gifted enough. Perhaps you have wanted to change jobs for a while and now you have the opportunity to do just that, but you don’t want to go. The unknown is too scary. Although you’ve been miserable, at least the misery is familiar where you are now.?
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    I desperately wanted to move out of the shadows of my doubts, but all I could do was go through the motions and pray that God would zap me with confidence. I kept hoping it would happen right there in my bathroom, but it didn’t. Doubt and questions continued to criticize me.  (excerpt Chapter 1 A Confident Heart by Renee Swope download FREE here.)


    Sound familiar? Unfortunatly all too familiar……

    I understand what it feels like to live in doubt and insecurity. If only I could see myself how God sees me.  I completely relate to the struggles Renee described above.  I doubt my ability to home school  my kids.  When I compare myself to others who have a degree in education, I don’t feel equipped.  I find myself insecure in God’s call on my life.  Surely the next workshop I teach I will freeze and forget everything I have taught for the past two years.  I fear I’m not doing enough for my family, again doubt creeping into my thoughts

    I don’t have to live “in the shadows of my doubts,” as Renee describes. It will take work on my part, but learning to walk in the confidence that God has for me wil be worth the journey.

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    Won’t you join me? Starting on Thursday, September 8th we’ll go through a devotion each day from the 7-day Doubt Diet, the FREE companion devotional to Renee Swope’s new book, A Confident Heart.  The devotions are short, but really encouraging.  In committing to the journey together we can hold each other accountable and lift each other up.  Go ahead and sign up for the 7-day Doubt Diet here (It has nothing to do with weight) so you’ll be ready next week.  Invite your friends.

    For details about a LIVE facebook chat with the author on September 14th and the giveaway, click HERE for my original post.

    Filed Under: Encouragment, Keepin' It Real

    New! Join us for a week of encouraging devotions!

    August 31, 2011 By 2 Comments
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    Girls, I am so excited!!  We have a new 7 day devotional series that begins next Tuesday September, 6th.  I just finished reading A Confident Heart by Renee Swope and I can’t keep it to myself,  I couldn’t wait to share with ya’ll!
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    I felt like Renee and I sat down together, I spilled my guts about my insecurities, fears, negative emotions and more while she intently listened to my heart.  Afterwards, I felt like she opened her book and placed it in my lap as she sat down beside me.  Then, like a  girlfriend she began to gently address those issues that were plaguing my heart.  She knew how I felt  from her own experience.  Chapter after chapter, I felt this book was written just for me.
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    Now – she wasn’t there literally.  She’s very REAL about her own struggles and insecurities and where God has brought her to a place living confidently living in his promises.
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    Along with A Confident Heart, Renee wrote a devotional, The 7-Day Doubt Diet, that follows the same message in her book.  So, starting next Thursday September 9th we’ll go through each days devotion together for 7 days.  Best of all it’s FREE, here.
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    The 7-day Doubt Diet

    Are you ready to lose the weight of discouragement and self-doubt?
    Be sure to sign up for “The 7-Day Doubt Diet” on Renee’s blog in the sidebar here.
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    Filled with daily insights, powerful promises, and daily scripture-based prayers, Renee has written a week’s worth of FREE Confident Heart devotions from her new book!


    How much does doubt weigh you down? Click the link below to find out.
    Doubt Analysis Index

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    This is not a huge commitment,  only 7 days, you’ll be so glad you joined us.  I need accountability myself, each morning I’ll post my thoughts, struggels, triumphs etc that pertains to that days devotion.  If you’d like you can share in the comments.  By the way, what did your Doubt Analysis Index say?  Were you surprised?  I’ll post my score this week.
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    Won’t you join me?  Here’s how to get started.
    • Go here to sign up to receive the 7 Day Doubt Diet.
    • Hold your emails as they start to come in – we’re doing this together.
    Renee is going to join us for a LIVE facebook chatt!
    • We’ll have facebook chats a couple of different times.
    • Renee Swope is  joining us for a live facebook chatt on Wednesday, September 14th!! (time tba – it will be in the evening)
    • After we’ve completed the 7 Day Doubt Diet - GIVEAWAY!  4 copies of A Confident Heart.
    • Twitter Party – time and date TBA
    Go ahead and read the first chapter here - it’s free to download.  If you have time to finish it before next Tuesday thats fine – if you don’t that’s fine too.  Remember no pressure here – just girlfriends hanging out chatting together.   Just a kick start of encouragement for each of us to start our day.
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    A Confident Heart: Replace a lack of self-confidence with lasting God-fidence!
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    The book is only $8.60 on Amazon HERE. or Kindle edition is $8.17 Here.
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    Do you ever feel like you’re not good enough, smart enough, or valuable enough? Do words you say to yourself, or hear from others, make you question your worth and purpose? Renee Swope understands. Even with a great family, a successful career, and a thriving ministry, she still struggled with paralyzing self-doubt. Offering the voice of a friend, Renee candidly, and sometimes humorously, shares her story of overcoming self-doubt with powerful Biblical Truths that transformed her life — and thousands of others!
    Download Chapter 1 Free – Click HERE
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    Chapter by chapter, A Confident Heart will help you:
    • Learn to fail forward even when life or sin sets you back
    • Live confidently in your God-given purpose, passion, and personality
    • Break free from people-pleasing and performance-based living
    • Exchange “against me” thoughts with scripture-based God is “for me” thoughts
    • Trust the certainty of God’s promises in the uncertainty of your circumstances and emotions
    Join A Confident Heart Facebook Page.
    So……are ya’ll excited?  Invite your friends, they will thank you.
    Leave a comment and let us know if you are joining.
    Filed Under: Encouragment, Keepin' It Real Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

    Been There, Done That & Have the T-Shirt to Prove It.

    August 18, 2011 By 12 Comments


    Anyone ever feel O-V-E-R-W-H-E-L-M-E-D?
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    I don’t mean just by the really BIG issues in life, it’s the little ones that surround me daily that cause the most frustration.  There are so many things I need to do that if I started making a list I think I would run away from myself.  Cleaning the kitchen, dusting the furniture, mopping floors, vacuuming, scrubbing bathrooms, washing clothes……….starting to get my drift?  Of course that’s just a couple of examples, there’s also grocery shopping, recently packing and unpacking,  making sure my kids have jeans that fit, my son’s birthday, oh and my screened-in porch has been driving me crazy for weeks, no months.  I just need to get my tail out there with a water hose and get it over with.  It’s not that I mind doing those things, in fact I look at it as a way to serve my family.   I love being a “sorta stay at home mom,” although that looks a little different now since we started Time 2 $ave, however I LOVE teaching workshops and speaking hope into peoples lives.
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    So if I feel good about doing it for my family, then guess how I feel when I don’t do it?  I feel like I have failed, I am a bad mom, a bad wife and then my house turns into the size of a shopping mall in my mind and I begin to feel hopeless.  I freely admit that I sound a bit dramatic but hey as girls, it’s kinda how we were created.
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    In the middle of this mess I remembered a title of a book called, Too Blessed for This Mess by Cindi Woods.  I have read several other books/bible studies by the same author that were fabulous The Frazzled Female: 30 Days to Finding God’s Peace in Your Daily Chaos and Victoriously Frazzled the Frazzled Female’s Guide to Restoring Her Sanity.
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    Without knowing what Too Blessed for This Mess is about I just decided to make that statement my theme song for that day.
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    (anyone remember The Ally McBeal Show with her theme songs?)

    It is settled……I am officially too blessed for this mess.  That means I can’t let it overwhelm me or allow it to tell me who I am, based on what I have done or not done.  Many times God brings scripture to my mind when I am feeling especially defeated like I have been today – such as:
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    “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Phil 4:13
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    “The LORD my God in my midst is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over me with joy; I will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.” Zephaniah 3:16

    If God created me and he knew me before I was formed in my mothers womb (Psalm 139:13-16) he knew about my mess, he knew how overwhelmed it would make me feel and he knew that all those little things added together would make me feel like I was a failure.  Even more he knows that my thoughts are not true.  His ways are higher than my way,s his thoughts are higher than my thoughts.  My Mess Doesn’t Determine my Ability to be Blessed!  Last year when I started my original journey to simplify my life and clean out my home (starting with my kids playroom and the laundry room) was my worth different?  Did God value me differently?  Did he throw a huge party up in heaven to rejoice about my mess being clean?
    I could just imagine God in the middle with the Holy Ghost on one side and Jesus on the other jumping up and down giving me a Woot Woot! Right?  Wrong, maybe a little high five, but not because of something I did or accomplished – instead as my Father, he understood the desire of my heart to get my home in order.  He knew the sense of accomplishment I felt.
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    “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11″

    Now the task at hand – The Home School Room!

    My husband had already tackled part of the room before I took pictures
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    This morning I shared how I was feeling with my husband especially the internal trauma I felt from being disorganized.   So sweetly he started cleaning up our homeschool room.  (it looked like a bomb had blown up in there)  I am feeling especially anxious about getting everything in order for our new school year.  Although I intended to continue our same school schedule throughout the summer well…..not so much.  Instead our homeschool room turned into a junk room and I don’t even know where to start.
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    Wow!  Look at this close up of this fabulouslly organized table.
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    Before my husband started cleaning I suggested we pull the furiture TV’s and a couple of boxes in the garage out in the driveway so that people riding by would think we were having a garage sale.  I really really want to sell some of my furniture and we have way too many TV’s I thought we could take turns peeking outside the perfect solution instead of sitting outside all day.  I thought – hey we’ll just open the garage pull a couple of things out and maybe just maybe we could sell at least the big items. Patiently he answered, honey one bite at a time.  I really think that attempting a yard sale at the same time we are cleaning inside is too much.   I knew he was right, I always try to do to much at the same time then I get way over it and don’t want to finish.
    TRANSITION HERE……Trust me it will be worth it!
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    For just a moment follow me we are going a bit off topic but it is still totally related.  Just so you’ll know how bad my garage is right now a couple of weeks ago I forgot to shut the garage door when I got home.  As we were getting ready to go out I noticed a car in my driveway I did not recognize.  Let me rephrase that…. the car wasn’t just in my driveway it was at the very top.  I remember thinking to myself who in the world is at my house and where are they?  I checked my front porch, nope empty.  Anyone in the front yard? No one.  Surely not the backyard, right?  Then I noticed………..

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    MY GARAGE DOOR WAS OPEN. (GASP)

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    I had forgotten to close the garage door when I got home.  I’m pretty much freaked out at this point because there were strangers in my garage and my active imagination assured me they most certainly were burglars about to come in my house. Why else would they have parked so close there had to be some kind of scary motive here, perhaps a fast getaway.   I carefully walked around the corner as to peep out the window at the top of my door leading out to the garage so I could assess the situation.  Wait, should I have grabbed a weapon, baseball bat, pepper spray, golf club, SOMETHING before playing mommy detective?
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    NO!  You have got to be kidding me. Oh Dear please say not this is embarrasing………..they stopped because they thought
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    I was having a G A R A G E   S A L E!!!
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    A man and his daughter were walking around my garage sorting through our pile of stuff.  When I say stuff I mean a lot, not only the remnants of my last yard sale but also the extras my friend didn’t sell.  Add two TV’s an entertainment center and of course stuff for the business and I had myself a fully stocked garage just waiting for a sale to happen.  How in the world was I going to handle this, I mean my heart was still beating a thousand times a minute as I recovered from what I thought was going to be a knock down drag out with a burglar in my garage.  So what did I do?  I stopped took a couple of deep breaths to slow down my heart and decided I was at a crossroads.  I could go outside and kindly tell my visitors that we weren’t having a garage sale it was just a mess.  In fact, we were just in recovery mode from a recent yard sale.   For good measure as he walked away I could mention checking back in a couple of weeks because we were likely to have another one.
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    Wait should I just send him off just like that?  If you know me you know that my wheels were already starting to spin in the back of my head………..(Imagine this song in your head should he stay or should he go)
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    Of course he should stay!   I put on my biggest smile opened the door and walked outside to kindly greet this precious man and daughter and thank them for stopping by my garage sale.  I told them I’d be glad to answer any questions they had and be willing to negotiate the price of any item they were serious about purchasing.   Even better I can ask my kids to bring out our freshly made pitcher of Lemonade and offer to pour them a refreshing drink.  I didn’t want them to overheat I wanted them to be comfortable so they would stay longer and look.  This kind man had a fantastic idea!  Of course it looked like we were having a yard sale,  I didn’t want to be the one to let him down?  Besides I wasn’t about to walk way from the possibility of selling some of the stuff.
    Then, my excitement went straight down the drain when he looked at me and said, “No hable English,” as he pointed to my daughters favorite bike one of the ONLY things in the garage not for sale.  In very broken English with the help of his daughter he asked the price of her bike?  I had lots of other things he could purchase, but not the bike was not for sale.
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    So what in the world does all that have to do with what I am going to show you next?  Not much, it’s just how my mind works, I thought you might enjoy a little journey.  Just kidding…..as I was thinking this morning about everything I needed to do, all the closets that needed organizing, and every room decluttered again – you remember the mess in the homeschool room right?   I began to fight agaisnt those negative thoughts about myself.  So when I saw this deal I checked it out purely because I forgot what I was supposed to be doing.  Once I saw the free Tshirt offer and one of the templates my creativity started to stir.  I had to make myself one.
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    I made myself a Tshirt to remind myself…………….  Galatians 6:9 ” I will not grow weary in well doing, at the proper time I will reap a harvest if I faint not.”  So, next time I get overwhelmed or discouraged about everything that is screaming my name I am going to remind myself…I will not grow weary.  Every time I see the same toy on the floor that my kids have already put away and gotten back out for the tenth time today I am going to remind myself…….I will not grow weary.  Everytime I clean up a mess that I have cleaned up every day for the past week I will remind myself……….I will not grow weary.  Every time my coupons get unorganized and look like a gerbil has used them for a home I am going to remind myself………I will not grow weary.
    Because in all reality – I will continue doing the same tasks over and over for the rest of my life as long as I am capable.  I don’t want the alternative - if I was unable to do so would mean something has happened that affected my health or mobility.  The fact that I can still clean my house, wash clothes,  help my children clean their room, cook dinner, homeschool my kids, organize messy closets, scrub bathrooms and sometimes mop the floor means that I am alive and that I am blessed to have a family to care for.
    Each of us are human, and sometimes the worries of this world can take over our minds and threaten to steal our peace.  I hope that by my sharing my embarrassing story, pictures of my home and garage in a wreck that you feel better about yours.
    If you’d like to step by step directions to order a shirt just like mine, click more.  It’s a little lengthy, but I tried to break it down to make it super easy.
    Filed Under: Keepin' It Real

    Happy Birthday Deal Detective Kim!

    August 11, 2011 By Leave a Comment

    Just so you know, today is Kim’s special day – and I wanted to mention it, since she’s so special to us!

    Kim volunteers her time to write frugal recipes (Pantry Cooking Saturday), send tips about clearance items/hidden deals, and write posts on extra ways for the Time2Save Community to save money!  (See her most recent post on Saving Money at the Pump!)

    Thanks Kim, for all you do – and as we like to say around here, Bless Your Heart!

    Filed Under: Keepin' It Real, Silly

    Blogher ’11: Recap and Photos! (Bieber, 80′s Hair, Muppets) #blogher

    August 8, 2011 By 5 Comments

    Photo Credit – Our new friend, Reb, from RebStevenson.com

    It’s already Monday – which means that BlogHer ’11 is all over and done with, and Team Time2Save is safe and sound and back in Tennessee right now.  Kelly was holding down the fort here in Tennessee for the week, so a big thanks to her!

    I tried to get online to update you guys during Days 1 & 2 of Blogher, but the last few days were a blur of meetings and classes and parties involving dancing, french fries and chocolate (it’s a big group of crazy women, remember?)

    I’ve been going through my camera and showing the kiddos pictures, and I thought I’d share them with you guys too – here are some of the highlights!

    We like to start our day right – that’s why we bask in the glow of the Jimmy Dean Sunshine every morning :)   You should’ve see this guy trying to get off the elevator – we almost wet our pants laughing!

    Speaking of “Sunny Days”,  this picture is especially for my little Addie, who is 4 (and happens to be freaked out by all muppets) – this ought to show him how friendly they are!  Incidentally, Elmo loves a good snuggle :)

     

    Although talking to brands & learning about new products was great – it’ll wear you out being “on” all day.  Which is why we headed down to check out the evening party and unwind with our awesome roomie, Sarah from AThriftyMom.  That’s her, above, with her amazingly teased hair.  She wanted to help us tease ours too, but we politely declined….

    The highlights of the party for me were:
    a) Justin Bieber standees, which I most definitely had to pose beside for my boys, who made me sit through the movie “Never Say Never”.  Also, you see that Darth Vader is very jeaous of our friendship and wishes he could be cool like us.
    b) Airing out my vintage disco dress for it’s once-per-decade event.  ($4 at the Goodwill, in case you’re wondering!)

    The end of the conference meant saying goodby to lots of new blogger friends, and boarding the plane to return to the real world.  A world where sweet, sleepy kiddos sneak into your room in the middle of the night to pounce into your bed and welcome you home – and wonderful husbands have done all the laundry while you were gone.  I am blessed beyond measure!

    A little off-topic, but speaking of flying – did anyone know that Skymall sells special UV lights that kill bedbugs, lice and other creepy crawlies?  Which makes me wonder – why don’t our school nurses have them to control the crazy lice outbreaks goin on at school?  (I’m stealing this magazine to show our school nurse!)

    Filed Under: Keepin' It Real, Silly

    Summer Family Outdoor Health & Safety Gear

    July 15, 2011 By Leave a Comment

     

    If you just saw Kasey reviewing these items on News Channel 12 WDEF you can find more information below as well as a link to each site.

    Nasopure $20

    our nose filters 2,500 gallons of air per day…cleaning your personal filter makes a much sense as taking a shower or brushing your teeth.  Nasopure does not require you to bend and twist your neck like a pretzel, Nasopure is the NICER NETI.  Washing with the correct system can wash out 80% of the allergens, …..and use 80% fewer medications! Recent studies support washing prevents and reduces infections of sinuses, ears and nasal passages so easy even a 2 yr old can do it in less time than washing your hands 1/3 of  air travelers get sick, washing prevents/reduces this number
    (nasopure.com)

    Safety Turtle $235

    The Safety Turtle Wireless Wristband Alarm is an ingenious combination of wireless signal-outfitted wristband and a wireless base station receiver that sounds an alarm the instant a child falls or ventures into water. The base station can be positioned anywhere between pool/waterside and 200 feet away (depending on model desired). $235
    (safetyturtle.com)

    Thermacell Outdoor Lantern $31.99

    The ThermaCELL Outdoor Insect-Repellent Lantern is the best option for keeping mosquitoes and other insects in any outdoor setting. The Patio Lantern is both a powerful insect repellent device and a functional and portable, long-lasting outdoor LED lantern, with both functions being usable separately or together. Providing a 15×15 ft mosquito-free zone, it is 98% effective (tested and used by the Department of Defense and the United States Army), making it the most effective insect repellent device on the market. It is also non-toxic, safe and non-intrusive, being DEET-free, silent, portable and odor free. Weighs only 13 ounces.
    (mosquitorepellent.com)

     

    Aquajogger Junior $24.95

    The AquaJogger Junior is a fantastic in-water device that allows kids to learn to swim, play water games and have fitness fun. The Aquajogger Junior is worn like a belt and comfortably suspends the child wearing it at shoulder level in deep water allowing her/him to breathe normally and move freely while performing a wide variety of water activities. Contoured to fit a child’s body, and both fully adjustible and secure, the Aquajogger Junior is easy to use and comfortable. Also available for older children are in-water exercise tools, like dumbbells and leg weights. Includes a Splash Club Handbook featuring water games, swimming tips, and safety information.For ages 3 and up. $24.95.
    (aquajogger.com)

    Sport-Brella $69.99

    The Sport-Brella XL gives the whole family instant protection from the sun, rain, and wind with its domed shape, side flaps and 125 SPF. Its umbrella action open mechanism allows it to be set up in just three seconds and fits the family, fully 9 ft. wide. Includes top wind vents, side zippered windows for efficient airflow and additional visibility, internal pockets for gear and valuables, convenient carry bag and tethers/ground stakes for use when necessary for additional stability.
    (sport-brella.com)

    Filed Under: Keepin' It Real Tagged With:
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