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Escaping Toxic Situations

After being in a toxic relationship and you have FINALLY escaped from that place or that person is quiet a relief!!! There is a huge feeling of freedom. You feel empowered to get out and do what YOU want without the feeling of judgement or condemnation. It feels amazing!!!

You start doing what YOU want just making little changes at first. No big deal. Then, you get braver and braver to do bigger things. You feel in charge. It is your life and you will live anyway you want!!

However, to the Christian, regardless of where we have been and what we have been through. We should always stick to the principles of God’s Word. We tend to want to “show them” we can do whatever we want. But, is it best for you?? It is never right to do wrong. You don’t get a free ticket to go do all the wrong things. There are consequences to all decisions: right and wrong. You don’t have a right to sin. We are bought with a huge price. When we do wrong, it hurts Christ, ourselves, and those who have invested in you.

The Bible says that you are known by your fruit. Are you bitter, hard, soft or sweet fruit. What you are producing is exactly what you will reap.

Ae we going to be perfect?? NEVER!!! But we should have the desire to be more like Christ every day of our life. Who are you wanting to be like today? Are you wanting to show the world you are in charge of your life? Or are you wanting to show the world that you love the Lord and still want to serve Him?

Homework: Spend time with God today in HIs Word and ask Him for leadership in your life.

SPIRITUAL & EMOTIONAL ABUSE

Has someone hurt you either emotionally or spiritually?  You just expected a far different outcome.  You did your best and never thought they would do what they did.  You thought way more of them than you should have only to be let down emotionally?  Was that person a dictator that demanded everything from you, yet threw you away like an old dish rag?  

It is so very difficult to get over these hurts.  Little triggers will set you off into a panic attack or another round of depression.   

I am not an expert or a professional in any thing.  But, I am experienced in being hurt by many many people in my life.  The hurt is REAL and overwhelming at times.  What seems big to me, may seem like a little thing to you.  But what is huge to you may not seem to be the same for me.  One thing for sure, our pain is real and we have to deal with it. 

Here are a few things I have found that has helped me.

  •  That one person or small group of people are exactly that …..SMALL.  In the whole scope of things and in a world of 7.8 billion people, why do I allow one mean person control even a second of my life.    
  •  Look at your hands, you have ten fingers.  Each finger stands for a word and there are ten words that can change everything.  The Bible says, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”   You are an overcomer and with the Lord’s help you can overcome anything Satan throws at you.
  • Remember who loved you so much that HE died for you.  He has open arms to welcome you and to love you. He gave you a choice.  You can choose Him or you can deny HIm.  Our choices get us into most of our situations.  Don’t blame Him.  He isn’t a dictator.  He doesn’t demand our love but also no man can give the LOVE that only He can give.  He can give you something all the money in the world can not buy and that is PEACE. 
  • Remember that EVERYONE IS A SINNER.  God loves the sinner but hates the sin.        

In the Bible, the story of the Great Shepherd who searched out the one little lost lamb, He is wanting to comfort you while you feel lost, hurt and sad.  The little lamb just wants to get away and experience things that he can’t in the safety of the sheepfold and watchful eyes of the Shepherd. But there are so many dangers out alone.  The Great Shepherd left the 99 sheep to go find the one little lost lamb because HE VALUES it.  He wanted that little lamb back in His sheep fold.  That is the only place where you will find love, comfort and joy that only He can give.  

Some say, I did that and I got hurt.  I understand but more important God understands.  Remember who hung Jesus on the  cross?  Can you imagine being God the Father watching  your Son being hung on the Cross?  But, He allowed it so He would understand our sufferings.  God allows some things so we can help others.  We need to learn, heal and forgive and start reaching out and helping others who are going through the same situations.  Why?  Because we are stronger now because we have learned, “I can do all things THROUGH CHRIST which strengtheneth me.”  

Go and shine for the Lord today because YOU CAN!!! 🙂

Homework:  Read Psalms 23

HOME SCHOOLING

I was told before starting homeschooling to write down every reason why I chose to homeschool my children. 1, Is it spiritual? 2. Is it physical? 3. Is it emotional? 4. Is it academically?

You will be challenged in all of these areas. There will come a time that you will be tired and things aren’t going as planned. You will stop and ask yourself, “What in the world was I thinking?”

In our preconceived ideas, we think our children will always want to be with us, sitting around the kitchen table or in front of the fireplace with books in hand and eager to learn.

In reality, they will do everything in their might to get out of doing their work. They will even dread what we see as fun.

Homeschool if done right is a lot of work. I learned real quick that there are not any substitute teachers. If you are sick, tired, pulled beyond your limits, don’t plan on anyone stepping up and asking to help homeschool your kids for the day.

Of course, if someone did take your children within just the first hour, you realize how much of their life that your are missing and want them right back.

My homeschool Mom friend told me there will be days you will look at the school bus drive by. Silently, you are begging them to take your kids to school so you can have a break even for a few hours.

Keep your list handy and remind yourself of all the reasons why you started to homeschool in the first place. Keep your priorities straight and always remember why you started. That reason usually doesn’t change. 🙂

So, buckle up. It is a wild ride and enjoy every moment. 🙂

Plan your work and work your plan

I believe education has a scope and sequence. It is very dangerous to our children’s education when we jump from one curriculum to another and grab a sheet from here or there. There will be huge gaps and holes in their education.

I suggest that you pick a good curriculum. I am not saying you have to pick the hardest curriculum out there. Pick one that that works with your child’s learning ability. Challenge them but don’t frustrate them.

Get a lesson plan book and write out the goals per day, week, and month. Plan your work and work your plan. Finish the program to the fullest. Stopping in the middle is hurting your child. Yes, there are times when we need to supplement, or stop the curriculum and reteach a concept. But, master that concept before moving on to the next lesson. As one concept is built on another and then another. Make sure the foundation of your child’s education is solid.

Try to make it fun. Let your child know what is expected each day. Be consisitent.

DURHAM REPORT

In these troubling times in our world, who do we trust? Who do we believe?

Psalms 1: “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. 3. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. 4. The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. 5. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. 6. For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

Let’s turn to God’s Word. He never lies. Let’s put all of our trust in the Lord. He will never leave us or forsake us. He will be with us through every thing that we need to go through in this Life. Let’s ask the Holy Spirit for wisdom and discernment and for guidance to do what He wants to do for this day.

Homework: Read Psalms 2

KNOW YOU ARE LOVED WITH AN EVERLASTING LOVE.

Decor

Have you ever just wanted a change in your home to freshen things up a bit?

One way that I did that recently was I bought some gold paint in the craft section at Walmart for about six dollars. I decided to take off all the knobs and handles in my craft room and kitchen and paint them. I also used a small brush and painted the hinges. I loved the result.

First of all, I removed all that I could from the cabinets and cleaned them with soap and Dawn dish detergent. The detergent helps to remove any grease build up. Next, I painted them and let them dry. If you would like you can lightly sand them and then paint them a second coat. Then to help seal the paint I put a clear topcoat on top of them and put all the knobs and handles back on the cabinets. And it looks like I just went and bought new handles and hinges. 🙂 Looks so much cleaner, brighter and better. Love when little things makes me feel happy inside.

Re purpose

In these more challenging days, I believe we need to try to be more resourceful. We need to look for ways to repurpose things that we have on hand and not be wasteful. I want to encourage you to take this on as a challenge not a punishment. 🙂

This isn’t anything new, but I took a pickle jar and of course cleaned it and put a clear coat of clear topcoat sealer on it. Then, let it dry. This helps the paint to adhere to the jar and helps it to not chip. I was very impressed with the way it turned out. Next, I spray painted it blue and let it dry and put some jute around the top.

Then popped some popcorn and glued popcorn to a skewer stick and lightly spray painted the popcorn. Added some greenery and this is the result. Cheap, easy, fun, and pretty!

GRAB BAGS

A good way to increase your holiday décor is to buy grab bags or watch for clearance items after the season is over. Start planning on what you can make out of it for the next year.

Last year I purchased a couple grab bags from Michael’s after Easter. Wow…to me those are like Christmas gifts. I had so much stuff I was able to share with a family to help them with Easter this year.

Right now at Walmart plastic Easter eggs are only 19 cents a bag…time to stock up.

This is what I made with Easter eggs I got last year. A wreath with greenery, hot glue gun, eggs and a bow-and you have a beautiful wreath to hang in your home. Cheap and easy and beautiful! 🙂

God is Good

God is always good. I was raised in a Christian home. It wasn’t perfect–no family is. But, it was my family. The family God hand picked for me. We always attended church: Sunday morning, Sunday evening and Wednesday night. As a nine year old, I was convicted and realized what a sinner I was. The Lord was dealing with me. I went forward at the invitation time and the Preacher told me to have a seat. I was baptized a couple of weeks later. For 5 very long years, I would go to bed at night KNOWING if the house caught on fire or if a tornado came, I would die and go to hell. Pride kept me from making it right.

Finally, 3 days after my 14th birthday, I went forward at a different church, got down on my knees and asked the Lord to PLEASE forgive me of my sins and to take me to Heaven when I die.

That night I was born into God’s family. He became MY “Heavenly Father”.

I remember all the way home, I kept looking to the sky expecting Jesus to break through the clouds and come back for his own. I thought I was the “lost sheep” that he was waiting on. God is His loving mercy, is still giving “lost sheep” to turn to Him.

But, one day, He is coming. I BEG you! Please, don’t let pride stand in your way! Trust Him and Him ONLY to take you to Heaven. God will give you PEACE that you desperately need and only what God can give and ALL the money in the world can’t buy.

Just think, if you were the richest person in the world and died and go to hell. What would it profit?

HUGS FROM HEAVEN

Have you ever had a loved one leave–forever? I mean as they have passed from this life.

Your heart is broken. The first birthday, the first Christmas, Thanksgiving are so difficult. Your heart is broken and yet you put on a smile and try to “make it” through.

Our Lord never said life would be easy. He just promised He would always be with us.

My Dad was a massive stroke patient for ten years. My mother and I were his main care givers. I will probably share more about this time later on.

But, I want to share a “hug from heaven.” God says in His Word that “I AM”. He is whatever we need. He is all we need.

Let me back up in junior high, I was an avid ping pong player and wanted my own ping pong table. I asked my Dad if I could save up money if i could buy one. He was so gracious and said we could order one and I could pay him back.

Each week, I would work and do odd jobs and each Saturday I would make a payment and pay down my debt. We had it marked on the calendar and we watched it get lower and lower. I was much more concerned about paying my debt than what my Dad was. That is just the way good Daddy’s are. 🙂

I finally got down to owing the last twenty dollars and my Dad said it was paid in full and didn’t want any more payments.

One year after my Dad passed away, I was having a very difficult time. It was “the first”. My family decided to go to Walmart. As usual, my girls wanted to look at the toys and my hubby wwanted to look at the sports section. I was just looking at anything when guess what I saw. It was a PING PONG table and guess what the price was!!! It was on CLEARANCE for only $20.00. HUG FROM HEAVEN!!!

You see God was being my “Heavenly Father” and giving me a hug that gave me peace that money can not buy.