Today, a conversation I had with someone really got to me. It wasn't only WHAT the person said...but also HOW it was said. I called up my husband just to vent. He, of course, assured me not to let it get to me, that it was okay and that the person was wrong (he knows them all to well :D). What I'm getting at is that I could not let it go, it just got to me so badly that I couldn't stop thinking about it. It plays over and over in my head.
Turns out, prayer really is the only way I can get past the frustration of that conversation. God knows me, He knows that person, and He knows our hearts. I can always talk to Him about it and I'll feel better.
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:6-7).
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Friday, May 15, 2009
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Gossip: It Rears its Ugly Head!
I wrote this post in August of last year, but thought it was time to bring it up again. Gossip not only effects those who it's about, or those who say it...but those who have to hear it. The update at the bottom was from last year as well. Are you confronted with gossip? Where? And how do you deal with it?
_______________________________________________________
Top Places to Gossip:
1)Work
2)School
3)Home
4)Church
Can these places be avoided? Mostly, yes. Should they? Absolutely not!
Work: If you work outside of the home, you know well enough that the best place to find gossip is at the work place. So what do you do when you find yourself around gossip? A friend of mine told me about a co-worker she worked with years ago who would leave the breakroom if gossip came up. What a great example! It was VERY convicting to my friend who witnessed this. Gossip can be avoided by watching out for the areas where it takes place, and the people who start it. This may mean that you have your morning break by yourself, or pass up the copy machine when there is a line of gossipers waiting.
School: When I was a freshman in college, I had an hour break between my afternoon classes. Instead of studying or doing homework, my friend and I would watch everyone. We would pick out people, some we knew and some we didn't, and talk about them. We did not necessarily talk bad talk, but just wasteful chat, like how cute someone was, or how someones skirt was a little too....almost not there.
A lot of time was spent wasted by concerning myself with other people. The following semesters I spent in the library by myself, or running errands around town. Idleness is a quick route to gossip, it was for me.
Home: Gossip happens A LOT at home. If you don't think that it happens in your home....pay careful attention. I know that I often have this notion that home is the "okay" place to gossip, after all....it's just my family I am talking to. I cannot allow my attitudes towards someone else affect the way that my family sees that person. How hard is that? VERY! We want to trust our family with our secrets and the things we share about others, but it can be very dangerous. I have allowed members of my family to affect my feelings about others...even though I got along with the person just fine.
Church: Eek! When I was a child I had the idea that if you were going to lie, just make sure it wasn't in church, even though it was wrong, PERIOD! Same with gossip, if you're going to talk bad about someone, just don't do it in the church, it makes God unhappy. However, suddenly, gossip in church crept up on me. Back in the day, when I was little, I thought that every lady in the church was sweet and the best Christian women you could find. Then I got older and learned more about others via gossip. I can never look at the same women with the admiration I had had before, even though they had done nothing to me to make me feel differently.
Gossip taking place in church can soon seem "needful". Everything that is said on the church grounds seems safe....add the word "prayer" and suddenly telling everyone that you saw Mike talking to another woman really does not seem like gossip, but like a prayer request. Hmmmm.....
________________________________________________
UPDATE: How many times do you unintentionally make a comment and suddenly, you're talking about somebody? Whew....I did that today. I offhandedly brought up a silly remark and words begin to fly from my co-workers...and me. I quickly put it back to rest. This reminded me of a fire that is dwindling done to tiny glowing ashes, then throwing dry straw on it, and suddenly you have a raging fire. This is the way gossip is.
The Lord showed me today the effects on my little remarks, and how they can fuel a fire. I also put into practice not allowing being alone with someone as this could open a window to gossip. If gossip starts, it should be turned quickly around. One thing to help, say, "I got to go to the restroom!" Maybe the person will forget what they were saying. Baby steps..... hehe!
_______________________________________________________
Top Places to Gossip:
1)Work
2)School
3)Home
4)Church
Can these places be avoided? Mostly, yes. Should they? Absolutely not!
Work: If you work outside of the home, you know well enough that the best place to find gossip is at the work place. So what do you do when you find yourself around gossip? A friend of mine told me about a co-worker she worked with years ago who would leave the breakroom if gossip came up. What a great example! It was VERY convicting to my friend who witnessed this. Gossip can be avoided by watching out for the areas where it takes place, and the people who start it. This may mean that you have your morning break by yourself, or pass up the copy machine when there is a line of gossipers waiting.
School: When I was a freshman in college, I had an hour break between my afternoon classes. Instead of studying or doing homework, my friend and I would watch everyone. We would pick out people, some we knew and some we didn't, and talk about them. We did not necessarily talk bad talk, but just wasteful chat, like how cute someone was, or how someones skirt was a little too....almost not there.
A lot of time was spent wasted by concerning myself with other people. The following semesters I spent in the library by myself, or running errands around town. Idleness is a quick route to gossip, it was for me.
Home: Gossip happens A LOT at home. If you don't think that it happens in your home....pay careful attention. I know that I often have this notion that home is the "okay" place to gossip, after all....it's just my family I am talking to. I cannot allow my attitudes towards someone else affect the way that my family sees that person. How hard is that? VERY! We want to trust our family with our secrets and the things we share about others, but it can be very dangerous. I have allowed members of my family to affect my feelings about others...even though I got along with the person just fine.
Church: Eek! When I was a child I had the idea that if you were going to lie, just make sure it wasn't in church, even though it was wrong, PERIOD! Same with gossip, if you're going to talk bad about someone, just don't do it in the church, it makes God unhappy. However, suddenly, gossip in church crept up on me. Back in the day, when I was little, I thought that every lady in the church was sweet and the best Christian women you could find. Then I got older and learned more about others via gossip. I can never look at the same women with the admiration I had had before, even though they had done nothing to me to make me feel differently.
Gossip taking place in church can soon seem "needful". Everything that is said on the church grounds seems safe....add the word "prayer" and suddenly telling everyone that you saw Mike talking to another woman really does not seem like gossip, but like a prayer request. Hmmmm.....
________________________________________________
UPDATE: How many times do you unintentionally make a comment and suddenly, you're talking about somebody? Whew....I did that today. I offhandedly brought up a silly remark and words begin to fly from my co-workers...and me. I quickly put it back to rest. This reminded me of a fire that is dwindling done to tiny glowing ashes, then throwing dry straw on it, and suddenly you have a raging fire. This is the way gossip is.
The Lord showed me today the effects on my little remarks, and how they can fuel a fire. I also put into practice not allowing being alone with someone as this could open a window to gossip. If gossip starts, it should be turned quickly around. One thing to help, say, "I got to go to the restroom!" Maybe the person will forget what they were saying. Baby steps..... hehe!
Monday, May 11, 2009
A Catfish Date!
Last Thursday my husband and I celebrated our first six months of marriage with dinner out! We went to a place my husband loves for their "all you can eat" catfish, called....."The Catfish House!" How appropriate!
This place has the BEST hushpuppies and the sweetest tea. We both ordered the catfish, and 15 fish later we were stuffed!
I am very grateful for the time we spent together, especially enjoying something we both love! When I was growing up, my grandparents had a pond and loved to go fishing just as much as they loved eating them! It brought back fond memories of summers with my grandparents and my brother. I wouldn't trade those days....or these days with my sweet husband for anything!
Do you have a memory of the past similar to mine? I'd love to hear it!
Saturday, May 09, 2009
Happy Mother's Day!!!
Oh, how I love my mother! The love and thoughtfulness she possess makes life so wonderful! There are so many wonderful things about her....I'm glad God gave me her as a mother! Happy Mother's Day, Mom!
The above photo is of her and my daddy decorating the dozens of cookies I simply had to have as my wedding favors! They were so helpful!
And Happy Mother's Day to all my blogging friends!
Tuesday, May 05, 2009
Six Month Celebration
Last Friday, my husband and I hit our first six months of marriage. It has been such an amazing adventure since we have gotten married. The things that we have learned about one another are incredible. Just when I thought I knew it all :DI have loved being Jonathan's wife these past six months. Has it been easy? No. But has it been wonderful? YES! The times it has been hard is when I'm having to learn more about MYSELF. It is very easy to get offended when I cook something he doesn't care much for. Or get tired of doing things around the house. Truth of the matter is, sometimes I don't even like some of the things I cook! I'm learning what dishes we like, and don't like. And when it comes to working around the house, I like to do it myself...the way I like to do it. It's just so easy for me to get the, "I do all the work around here" attitude, even though he offers. Don't worry. I don't get that way often...but it has crept up a couple times. The Holy Spirit quickly convicts me and I must ask for forgiveness from my husband. I love taking care of the home, so it's really my joy to do it!
The Lord has incredibly blessed Jonathan and I. He has provided so many things and wonderful opportunities for us. He as blessed us with a great church and church family. Even though we currently rent an apartment, we enjoy our home so much. It is our first home together and we know that God has richly blessed our home...even though we don't deserve it. Our friends and family were so generous to us in the gifts they gave us. I look around our home and so much of this we would not have if it weren't for them.
I love that I married my best friend. I love being at home from work before he gets home. I love cooking his favorite meals for him. I love how he says, "YES!" when he hears we are having pork chops!
I love our Bible Studies together every night. After we got back from our honeymoon, we began reading in the book of Genesis. I'll never forget giggling as he would read. I know that sounds so bad....but it was a happy giggle. He would read aloud and as he would read, "And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament," I could not control myself. It was just so new and hearing him read, I was like a little giddy teenager. We have come a long way :D It is so amazing to grow together...and to pray together.
I love how we sit at the table together even after supper and just talk. We talk about one another's day, and what we have planned for the rest of the evening at home. We definitely spend a lot of time laughing at the table as well. Our grandparents would send us to bed early for sure for "snickering" at the supper table :P
I love that even though Jonathan is head of the finances, he always wants my input on what I think. Sometimes I don't know, so he'll explain to me the situation and how it could work best for us. I think sometimes he just wants to talk about it, and I'm obliged to listen. :D
Being the "grown-ups" in our home, often means still being kids. We race each other up the stairs. We see who can find a book in the Bible first (we do this at church too....he gets a Texas-sized grin when he finds it first). And sometimes, just sometimes, we have cinnamon rolls for supper...or candy for breakfast.
Even after six months, I will look at my dear Husband and say to him, "Can you believe we are married?" He always says, "Yes," and grins. He is a wonderful husband. :D
The great thing about it, I know that the best is yet to come!
Sunday, May 03, 2009
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