Apparently, if you are going to post a request for verses to help people redirect their reactions, it may be a good idea to eat a big ol' piece of humble pie for breakfast.
Yes ma'am.
Just as I was thinking about shining my halo on all the good words I've been speaking to hubs the past couple of days, one of my kids plopped her book bag on top of her sister's presentation poster causing it to become wrinkled and bent. Tears ensued. Lots of tears. Like big crocodile, puddle producing tears.
Suddenly, all things nice just flew right out of me and I remembered a time a bully bent and wrinkled a poster I'd worked on for hours. And I quite simply got stinkin' mad.
After letting said poster bender know just how mad I was and dropping all children off at school, I knew I needed coffee. I ventured to my favorite little coffee shop with my favorite little laptop and remembered my post- and remembered the verses- and remembered Joy's encouragement- and knew I needed to re-read my own advice.
Oh sweet sisters, you encouraged me with your comments and verses more than you can imagine!
Especially "The Kahler Family" when she said, "It reminds me that before I take on anything or make any decisions, even in speaking, that I need to spend time with the Lord first. Even if it's just a "Lord help me to not put a for sale sign around my children's necks and stand them on the corner." ;)
How did you know that I was thinking about that sign around their necks?
I know how. We're all in this together, that's how.
Just when I was about to deem it a "bad day" with my "bad attitude" and hope to drown it all away with a really yummy latte, I realized something in the midst of reading all your verses.
At any point of any day, I can ask Jesus for forgiveness, draw a line in the sand and find the good that is surely there.
And that's when it happened.
Out of the blue, a lady walked up to me. A very hip and happenin' lady I must add.
"Excuse me- but where did you get those shoes? They are seriously the cutest shoes I have ever seen."
If you have been reading my blog for a while, you know why this comment made me want to jump up, throw my arms around this woman and squeeze the living daylights out of her as I proclaimed, "Bless you."
I was wearing these shoes.
Y'all, I used to never get comments about my shoes. NEVAH, EVAH! But then I found those stylin' things that aren't your grandma's Aerosoles and well, they 'complete me.'
So, though her comment on the surface was about shoes- in my soul it felt like a little kiss blown straight down from heaven.
Jesus just blesses my soul---
and my soles alike.
I don't know how your "watching your words" quest is going. If it is going quite well, throw your hands in the air and praise the Lord.
We'll wait for you, go ahead.
But if you are like me and your spirit is willing but your flesh is weak, take heart. Today is a new day. This minute is a new minute. The choice before you is a chance for redemption.
And for heaven's sake, find a sister today that has on some cute shoes and tell her.
Love and Hugs to you all.
Yes ma'am.
Just as I was thinking about shining my halo on all the good words I've been speaking to hubs the past couple of days, one of my kids plopped her book bag on top of her sister's presentation poster causing it to become wrinkled and bent. Tears ensued. Lots of tears. Like big crocodile, puddle producing tears.
Suddenly, all things nice just flew right out of me and I remembered a time a bully bent and wrinkled a poster I'd worked on for hours. And I quite simply got stinkin' mad.
After letting said poster bender know just how mad I was and dropping all children off at school, I knew I needed coffee. I ventured to my favorite little coffee shop with my favorite little laptop and remembered my post- and remembered the verses- and remembered Joy's encouragement- and knew I needed to re-read my own advice.
Oh sweet sisters, you encouraged me with your comments and verses more than you can imagine!
Especially "The Kahler Family" when she said, "It reminds me that before I take on anything or make any decisions, even in speaking, that I need to spend time with the Lord first. Even if it's just a "Lord help me to not put a for sale sign around my children's necks and stand them on the corner." ;)
How did you know that I was thinking about that sign around their necks?
I know how. We're all in this together, that's how.
Just when I was about to deem it a "bad day" with my "bad attitude" and hope to drown it all away with a really yummy latte, I realized something in the midst of reading all your verses.
At any point of any day, I can ask Jesus for forgiveness, draw a line in the sand and find the good that is surely there.
And that's when it happened.
Out of the blue, a lady walked up to me. A very hip and happenin' lady I must add.
"Excuse me- but where did you get those shoes? They are seriously the cutest shoes I have ever seen."
If you have been reading my blog for a while, you know why this comment made me want to jump up, throw my arms around this woman and squeeze the living daylights out of her as I proclaimed, "Bless you."
I was wearing these shoes.
Y'all, I used to never get comments about my shoes. NEVAH, EVAH! But then I found those stylin' things that aren't your grandma's Aerosoles and well, they 'complete me.'
So, though her comment on the surface was about shoes- in my soul it felt like a little kiss blown straight down from heaven.
Jesus just blesses my soul---
and my soles alike.
I don't know how your "watching your words" quest is going. If it is going quite well, throw your hands in the air and praise the Lord.
We'll wait for you, go ahead.
But if you are like me and your spirit is willing but your flesh is weak, take heart. Today is a new day. This minute is a new minute. The choice before you is a chance for redemption.
And for heaven's sake, find a sister today that has on some cute shoes and tell her.
Love and Hugs to you all.
32 Comments:
My memory verse for this week is John 3:30...
He must become greater; I must become less.
It is short and sweet and one of the hardest things to put into action in my life.
I have been trying to change my relationship with my son. It is all about changing myself. Some days I get it right, most I fall short of the mark. Sometimes by a lot.
That's why I picked John 3:30. It is short, and I can mutter it out between clenched teeth, until I can speak it joyfully.
Thanks so much for being so willing to share the struggles.
Love ya, bloggy sister friend.
Lysa,
Not only do you make me laugh amidst all the stuff going on in my life, but your transparency gives me hope, relief and a sense of sisterhood. I'm not the only one who misses it... and then cringes with embarrassment after the storm dies down. Thanks so much for being obedient and charging on with this ministry God placed in your trust. Remember, if you touch just one heart through your words, you've accomplished something of eternal consequences. And you've done that for me more times than I can count.
love you girl!
kim
Well, I've got "weak flesh" :o)
Know what I think? The evil one sees us longing to be obedient in this, so he's just making it all the harder. I "usually" don't have too much of a struggle with holding my tongue. I quite honestly didn't think this would be as difficult as it's proving to be.
Yesterday as an unkind response was flying from my lips faster than a locomotive, the Spirit stopped me in my 'tracks' and with His help, I was able to leap over my reply with a single prayer.
Not only did my husband frustrate me yesterday, but one and only son suddenly remembered, LATE last night, that the course outline sheet which must be submitted to the school TODAY at the latest, the one that he's been carrying around in his backpack for a week, he still had not shown his parents to discuss the choices that needed to be made for Grade 12!!!!! I'm not a last-minute-girl! UGGG!
Anyway...calmly :o) sat down and we talked about his choices and we're good to go today.
As my mother always says, "Each new day holds some lovely secret waiting to unfold". HAHA!
Keeping my eyes open for the "lovely" part today. Maybe someone will comment on my shoes - NOT! :o)
Praying for all of us on this journey,
Happy Words and Thoughts Day,
Joy
Okay Lysa,
First you tell us we need to watch our tongues with our husbands. Now you're telling us we need to be nice to our kids too? YIKES, this is way too much for me to take on right now! :) How about I just tell my kids I like their cute shoes? There's only so much nice I can dish out.
Paula G.
Let's just say, thank God, that "His mercies are renewed each morning".
THIS is the reason I come back here every day. I just love your honesty, your vulnerability, and your sense of humor. Of course we can't do it alone!! Thanks for the great reminder.
Our church is doing a year-long scripture memory program this year. Here's our verse for this week: "O Lord, you have searced me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you sidcern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether." Ps. 139:1-4
Before we even lose our cool, God knows it. How convicting is THAT?!
Have a great day, friend!
Of course that should be "discern." Oops!
Thank you for your posts the last few days. God is using you in powerful ways. So much of what you have shared (and your readers, too) is exactly what I need to hear.
Bless your heart! Thank goodness for cute shoes and the forgiveness of our awesome God!! I need these reminders!
Love ya,
Susan
I love you... I mean really, I love your honestly, the realness that comes across the pages... I sincerely appreciate the realness, that's what keeps me checking back in with you. It's like you get it... that's not common with people that are in ministry. Don't EVER lose that! It's admired and respected. I wish you guys would schedule a speaking engagement in Pensacola! We have great beaches you know!
oh...and by the way...just so you know that many of the words you say are used for His glory and remembered long after they roll off your tongue....I shared something on my blog today that I heard you say over a year ago now, but I have never forgotten. Although at the time living the reality of your words seemed impossible, I cling to the truth that God is able.
Your words have often been His guiding Hand and His healing heart.
Love ya,
Joy
Hey Lysa,
Great "words" these past few days..."words" are such a struggle. Husbands, kids they all need kind words!
I want to know if you wear said "cute" shoes on a daily basis? Like to drop kids at school? Your look way more hip than this carpool line mom! I'm glad that you found forgiveness and a nice compliment while getting your coffee!
Thanks for always being real!
Blessings,
Christine
Hey Lysa
You always make it real. I love how you share both the good and the bad with us. I am really working on taming my mouth with those around me. Thanks
and by the way I bought those way cute squishing trip boots after I saw them here and low and behold we haven't had snow since Go Figure!
Have a happy day
Deena
I'm catching up on the last few posts and so thankful I stopped by here this morning. My lack of patience has been showing more lately-especially when dealing with my 4th graders homework and my husband being deployed and preparing for a move....Thank you so much for asking for the Scripture references that will help all Moms! God Bless you for your faithfulness in ministry.
Your honesty is a breathe of fresh air to a wife and mom who makes sooo many mistakes with my words. God is working on me, too, and it brings tears to my eyes to know I am neither a freak nor am I alone on this journey! Praise Him for GRACE!
Thanks Lysa for the sweet reminder that we are all in this together! Sometimes when I am in the middle of one of those "teachable moments" or one like yours where the homework was wrinkled, it is easy to feel alone and want to stamp my feet out of the room in true "kid" fashion! I love that I can come here and know that I'm not alone and get the encouragement that I treasure!
Way to go with those shoes, they are adorable!
Angie
Thank You
Boy, did I need to read this post today. I blew it last night--it was just a "little" thing and my comment was just a "little" negative to my sweet hubby, but in the split second before I said it, the Holy Spirit reminded me of your post and my decision to stop making these little comments and I willfully, purposefully decided to say it anyway:-( I am so thankful for forgiveness from my God and my hubby. Guess this "little" project is going to be tougher than I imagained. Thanks for the encouragement to draw that line in the sand and start over.
Lysa, I so much enjoy your blogs and they truly make me feel I am not alone in the small struggles of everyday life. I know I have to watch my words, but not only words, but attitudes. I may be able to bite my tongue and not say things in the wrong way, but then I realize the attitude is still there, as if I had already said the words. Boy, God sure has been dealing with me about that my attitude needs to match up with my words or lack of words in this case. "You may think it but not say it, but it is the same as if you had said it when you have the wrong attitude" Anybody with me on that? Boy are my toes sore!
Talk about a bad start to your day, I was driving my son to school yesterday, and to my horror, I saw a skunk in my path and it was too late to stop or swerve. I hit the poor skunk with my right tire. After a scream & my heart racing, I realized what had happened. My son at that point thought that we were about to wreck. Well, there wasn't anything I could do and went on my not so merry way. Then the awful smell consumed my car and my son & I had to hold our noses all the way to school. It was horrible and was an awful start to my day. No matter what we couldn't get away from the smell, we were stuck with it. Later after asking Lord, why did it have to happen to me? The Lord promted me to see it as an illustration. An illustration of how sin works in our lives. We go along and then we may hit a bump, (sin), oops then we go along our way, but that certain sin has a smell, and unless we confess and get things right, that smell follows us wherever we go, it permeates our lives and it's smell won't go away until we do the right thing. God is so good, to show me the things He wants me to learn through the little things that happen to me. Lysa, that is what is so great about you, you share what God teaches you through the little things that happen to you in your life. Thanks for sharing, and I hope I was able to share with you.
Blessings to you, Angie
I laughed all the way through this. Loved the shoe also.
Thanks for being so real.
Sometimes it's hard to remember I'm the "mature" parent and not the ranting child.
you sure do know how to make a girl laugh and feel understood at the same time!!
Thank you for this challenge and the reminder that each new day His mercy is new and its another day fresh without mistakes
I love it! I only threw one hand in the air as I missed the mark on not words but thoughts when responding in my head to a request at work to produce something humans are just not capable of doing. I'm walking upright again and ready to begin anew. Oh, Lysa, I love your wit and wisdom!
Lysa, I know I should probably be saying something very "spiritual" here, but instead...
I just wanted you to know that after seeing the post about the shoes (last time that is), I went out and purchased a brown pair just like them! And, Girl, they are the bomb!
So thanks and props to you!
Blessings from my "soles" to yours,
Dawn
Well, perhaps you never (nevah evah) used to get comments on your shoes...but you MUST get comments on your necklaces! You have the greatest collection of necklaces! You have the "this-necklace-is-my-outfit" kind of necklaces! All you need is a monochromatic outfit and one of your fab-o necklaces! :)
Thanks for the encouragement to use "Worthy Words"! Need that reminder daily! "If you utter worhty, not worthless, words, you will be my spokesman" Jeremiah 15:19
I had a day like this yesterday. A teenage boy (whom I have never met) called me up on my teenage daughter's cell phone and said to me "(Insert daughter's name) is going to Starbucks with her friends. This is not a question, this is a statement!"
Anger immediately filled me! I tried to refrain my tongue from lashing a person I had never met, at the same time wanting to protect my daughter. "Excuse me?" did fly out of my mouth!
I do think the boy was trying to joke around, but it seemed very disrespectful to me and appeared to me that he was encouraging my daughter to stand up to her parents about their rules and plant rebellion in her heart.
I have been giving myself to prayer on how I am to handle this from here on in. My husband is going to speak to this boy about respect.
How do I represent Christ to this boy? May the Lord show me and help me control my tongue!
How did you know that I've been chanting under my breath for the last few weeks, "A gentle answer turns away wrath...A gentle answer turns away wrath..."
I so long to be a gentle mom that never boils. My mouth needs more quiet time. I need to meditate on Joy's verse too!! (and, go take the for sale signs off my children's necks!!)
Thank you so much for the encouragement. Yes, we are all in this together...with Him, thankfully.
i blogged here today about spewing off a list of complaints, and what My Man had to say about it.
Please tell me one day we will actually be able to control our tongues!!
Those are cute shoes -- and shoes were a topic in a staff meeting today, apparently, Macy's is having a sale. Lets just say all the male eyes were rolling!
Lysa, I just love how real and honest you are and how you turned a grumble into something positive and happy.
What a perfect post for me to read today, Lysa!
Wow - I have been failing at this whole intentional challenge - especially with my dear little ones. I've been grumpy - yes grumpy. But your post about being intentional keeps running through my head. So even in the midst of my "moods" I'm able to start over -ask for forgiveness and try again.
Fortunately the kiddos are quite ready and willing to forgive but I wish I didn't have to ask so much!
Today my sister and I were talking about you! :) About how you stress the importance of Pausing before speaking. Today I did that. I was nearly ready to loose my mind (well not really but you know) and I paused and took a deep breath ... and what do you know - nicer words came out of my mouth!
Thanks for this challenge to be intentional and Praise God that His mercies are new every morning!
Thanks Lysa!
OOooooh those ARE totally cute!!! Thanks for sharing your thoughts and being open... blessings and enjoy those SHOES!
Oh Lysa! I like your blog! Kelly
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