A Proverb a Day...

I hear recently where a family that studies the Bible together religiously(no pun intended) reads a chapter of Proverbs that correlates to each day in the month! Hmmm, this got me to thinking another way that I could spend time in His word on a daily basis might not be a bad thing! I started this a few days ago and so far am enjoying it. I'm on Proverbs chap. 6 today(obviously since that's the day of the month we are on) and to say the least I am scratching my head and contemplating confusion! A little interpretation assistance would be good here! I did however have no troubles with v. 16-19.... very direct and to the point... there some points in those verses I would like to share with many others.

Is anyone else using this method to reading/studying the book of Proverbs? If so would you leave me a comment and let me know the ways in which you are practically applying that to your daily life.  And if you would like to follow along with me that would be neat too!!

In HIS Word Wednesday

Happy Wednesday everyone! We are half way to end of our week; some might see this as a good thing, but I work weekends so its all the same to me!

I'd like to start some news things around here to try and keep things fresh and fun. I'm going to name Wednesdays "In HIS Word Wednesday" in which I would like to share a scripture that has either spoken to me earlier in the week or one that just has a special meaning for me.

"I can do everything through him who gives me strength." Php. 4:13

This particular passage from Phillipians was one that brought me much comfort especially during the times when my husband was deployed. It was like my own personal pep-talk each day - "now Shannon I know you can do this; the kids, the pets, the house, the bills, the everything!" I need a ton of reassurance back then just to make it through the day! Nothing like worrying about your husband's safety every moment or that the next door bell or phone call could be bad news. I think its that exact strenght that comes from this verse like a bullhorn to your heart and mind - YES you CAN do this and it is by His strength that you can. He's carrying you(me) with His loving and caring strength that just seems to melt away the tension and overwhelming stress that we sometimes feel. I for one realize that I am a strong woman and that He created me in His image, but there is a real need for the power of His strength to guide and steer us all... without it we can do nothing!

I would love to hear from you... if anyone out there is reading my blog/journal. It would be so nice to see/hear what words help you cope and keep the stresses of the day at bay!

The power of thought

Something that I've been [battling] with lately is the power of thought; more specifically negative thoughts. Negative thinking is a destroyer!  And where exactly do those negative thoughts come from? I mean no one really wants to think bad things are going to happen all the time or that they are constantly doing things wrong or devoid of moral guidance!

"Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts." Ps. 139:23 (emphasis mine)

This verse was given to me today and I hope it will bring me some comfort and guidance on all the terrible times when negative thoughts enter my mind and heart. And it's not like I don't try to keep positive thinking alive, because believe me I do; still there are more times than I like to remember that horrible, ugly thoughts are hindering my upbeat, hopeful side from shinning thru! I'll be praying over this and asking for more strength, resistence, and positive thinking to be on my mind each and everyday.

Day 2, I'm back!

*UPDATE: After making this post today I started my day as normal and started my work promptly at 8:30am and soon after that a need to find some guidance to be more patient was placed on my heart and this is what I was led to...

"Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love." Eph. 4:2 (emphasis my own)

I'm going to print this out on my computer and tape it up on my desk to look at throughout today! Maybe I can even save it to memory to remember at a time when I really need to feel that patience within my mind and heart! When you work customer service you need patience everyday, but also with our families and friends and anyone we come in contact with as well as ourselves!

I'm here, I'm here! Though I think I picked a time that doesn't really work for me as far as being able to concentrate - its time to get the kids ready for school, so it is kinda busy around here!  Well, I'll need to tweek my schedule so I can have some quiet time while I'm here. I really would like to get into some heavier discussions and start to reveal some of my "issues" - feelings rather, but issues works too.  I ask that you keep me in your prayers! I feel that the Lord has been speaking softly, maybe too softly, over the past few days and I just need some time to discern what exactly I'm to do with what has been given to me.... and that my friends is another post. So I wish you all a wonderful day and hope to "talk" again tomorrow!

Unexcussed Absence

Has it really been almost 5 months since I have been here??  I was totally shocked when I logged in to my dashboard to find it had been since May 15!  I wish I knew exactly why I had stopped coming here blog, but I don't really have a good answer?  May was just after we had moved to our new duty station and things were a bit hectic, but I don't think that had so much to do with my "Unexcussed Absence".

Personally I have taken a God-break.  Now I know how silly that sounds when I am typing the words, but my mind and heart and taken turns on the path that have made me go a stray - wondering, questioning, turning away from everything that I held to be true?? 

Confusing.... I have been very confused about things lately.  See I think being a Religious studies major in college has exposed me to so many wonderful cultures, ways of life, and beliefs that unfortunately have made some sort of sense to me - does this make me a bad person?  I don't think so, but this knowledge has caused some conflict within me!

And I think I'm going to leave it that for now.  I do intend to spend some more time, reflecting on things, renewing my thoughts, and hopefully getting back on the glorious path I had been on before I got derailed.  I hope this explains, at least to a certain extent, my "Unexcussed Absence".  Glad to be back my friends, glad to be back!

Amazing Video

I just had to share this video!! My Mom sent it to me in an email and even she thought it was the coolest thing she had ever seen -- talk about creative. Pass it on!

Who am I?

Now that sounds like a loaded question! LOL! A dear bloggy-friend, and designer of this blog, would like to get to know her readers a little better and has asked that we post about ourselves. Since most of us only know each other by way of bloggy-land its sometimes hard to really get to know the person who posts on your blog or others.

About Me:

I'm 32-years old, a part-time student (working on my bachelors in Religion), full-time Mom and Wife (to my hero; an Active-Duty Army SGT), and a child of God. Some days I feel like that is it in a nutshell, but there is more to me than the titles I give myself. I'm a web/computer nerd -- which simply means I enjoy spending time with my blogs and exchanging emails with some very dear people in my life. I even take my classes online which is better for me since we move around so much with the military! I've survived 2 deployments totaling 27 (out of 48) months -- this has been my hardest test in life so far!! Raising my children is a priority and is the reason I've put any chance at a career on hold (this has also been a blessing since I've found time to go back to school). I never would have pegged myself as the stay-at-home-mommy type, and actually that was not my plan, but as most of us know it's not about our plan its about His plan! I am very strong, almost too strong at times, making me a bit stubborn -- my husband tollerates this well (thankfully), but I'm sure God gets a little frustrated with my unwillingness to surrender completely (something I'm working on). Habits!! I'm a creature of habit and when my schedule/routine gets turned around I tend to become cranky -- my guess is its all those years with little ones at home that has made me that way? I also have high blood pressure which has forced me to change my lifestyle and work towards making a healthier me (not truly a bad thing I'm finding out). I've struggled, almost my entire life, with depression and bipolar disorder, but today I'm feeling better than I have in years -- I have some serious praise to give for that! I'm fun, like to be in bed early, enjoy a good cup of coffee, addicted to cereal (seriously could eat that every meal), give 110% of myself to everything I do, and I love big!

WOAH, I've told you guys a lot! So what about you? I hope you'll come by and leave me a link to your blog post too so I can get to know you better as well.