Oh, how I needed to read this!! ....

*The following was taken from an article I had clipped from something and placed in my housekeeping binder (more on that later, if you want the info, it's really easy & helpful). As I read this today, I became more convicted of my actions at times and how God restores me time and again! Thank God for His abundant GRACE that is anew every morning....(the highlighted ones are what I have struggled with recently).


~if Mom is sour, the children are cranky;

~if Mom is irritable, the children are antsy;

~if Mom is angry, the children live on eggshells;

~if Mom is distracted, the children run amuck;

~if Mom is undisciplined, the house becomes unkempt;

~if Mom is ungrateful, the children develop a sense of entitlement;

~if Mom is addicted to tv or internet, the house, the children, and her husband suffer;

~if Mom despises herself physically or any other way, her husband suffers for lack of intimacy;

~if Mom is petty or obsessed with material things, her children are shallow and her husband feels used;

~if Mom lives in a world without forgiveness, her children and her husband will never experience the deepest love she may have to offer

Thinking of....

Shutting this blog down. I would still email pictures and updates to family and friends and blogger friends but I really don't have the time to maintain it anymore. Also, I feel like I have to be positive all of the time(I put this expectation on myself, no one makes me feel that way) and I just can't do that. My life is not perfect. It's great, it's amazing, it's blessed but it's not PERFECT.

I just really need to have some time to ponder things so I probably won't be posting for awhile, at least. I have SO many things that I need to pray about and work on. I am feeling a little overwhelmed right now, in good ways and in stressed out ways but just overwhelmed! I need to take a break for a while and refocus.

Also, I think not posting on here and sending the updates to people instead would force me to have more contact, to reach out to the people that I need to reach out too. If that makes any sense? I think that sometimes I hide behind my blog because it is easier. There are many reasons that I do this and they have a lot to do with depression and anxiety but the reasons should not become excuses for going into hiding. I need to face things and deal with life. I have watched many family members and people that I know, hide behind their depression and I do not want to be that kind of person. I want to face my junk head on! That's what God wants from me.

So, I am on a break. I don't know for how long. Maybe from now on. Just until the Lord tells me different. Until I see some clarity in the things I need to deal with. If you want to, you may email me at mama2clairelilydrew@gmail.com

Hope to talk to you, person to person (through email or phone, that is!), soon!!!

Love,
Julie

living out the Word of God..

Galations 5:22-23

22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!


I've been praying a lot lately about the job I am doing as a wife and mother. I am seeing some things that I need to correct in my attitude and my actions towards my husband & children. I am really trying to soak these scriptures in and make them become part of me. I want my husband to "safely trust" me and my children to "rise up and call me blessed". I want my family to know and to feel just how much I love them. I want to be unselfish and to always put them first. I want my husband to be happy and secure in my love and our babies to be secure in the fact that they and their Daddy are Mama's #1 priorities.

I want everything this holiday season to reflect what unselfishness is. The true reason for the season. And I can't do that if my attitude stinks! So, I am reading and saying and writing this verse down every day and I am praying this verse. I am talking to the Lord about how I need these words, this truth, to change me.

So, this is my verse this week. I am posting it on my sidebar and next week I will have a new one. Let me know what verses are speaking to you where you are in your life right now. What is the Word of God saying to you? Please share, I would love to pray for you. :)

Love,

Julie