Comparison

Lately I've heard the phrase "comparison is the thief of joy" several times.  This has really made me search my heart.  It seems like the Lord is doing all kinds of things in my heart these days.  I'll save all that for another day,  back to comparison and the danger in it.  Comparing ourselves to our friends, neighbors, family can start so easily and before we know it we are so unhappy with everything we have! This is such a dangerous place to be.  Today I had the thought that it really makes you ungrateful.  Our God is a God who loves thankfulness and I don't want to be in a place of being ungrateful.  Being ungrateful can rob us of all the blessings that he has in store for our lives.  I don't know about you but I want all the blessings!  

The biggest reason comparison is dangerous is because it can and will steal our joy.  When we lose our joy, we lose our strength.  The bible says "the joy of the Lord is our strength." (Nehemiah 8:10)  When we lose it the enemy can come in at our moment of weakness and knock us off our feet.  Now that I am aware of this, I can see many times where I've allowed this to happen to me.  Don't get me wrong here people, there's always grace.  Our savior is always standing there with arms open, ready to give us back our joy as we draw near to him.  

I have really been evaluating my own life throughout this learning process.  I am so bad about comparing myself to my friends.  I often think I am not good enough and I pale in comparison to my friends.  This goes from clothes to personality from anything to everything.  It's really a constant battle in my mind.  I'm so tired of it.  It is a lot of work trying to keep up with everyone.  It is not the way to  peace.  Peace and joy are two things that the world does not have and how can I be that to them if I'm not living in it myself?

I'm challenging you dear reader to search your heart and see the ways you might compare yourself to others.  Let's find our value in Christ and forget about trying to keep up and be someone we weren't created to be.  I'm looking forward to raising a daughter who knows she is valuable and it will have nothing to do with the things she has or doesn't have, it will be her identity in our savior.  

Just a little side note: let's stop being so hard on each other.  I know that I've been hard on others when they are "different" than me.  That's not a good place to be either.  I've been watching Big Brother (guilty pleasure), but the girls are really mean to each other. It is really sad to see.  We as women need to stand up, especially Christian woman, and be kindhearted to one another.  We need to look past the outward appearance and look at the heart.  I know this is so elementary but it is something that we need to be reminded of.  

Just a little food for thought. Thanks for reading.  

Update: 30 day challenge

About 20 days ago I gave myself a challenge to wear a different shirt everyday for 30 days.  To make it even more challenging I am not allowed to buy any new shirts.  In case all two of my readers are wondering, I thought I'd update.
I have done a pretty good job and I've actually enjoyed doing it.  This week I wore one shirt twice just because I wanted to wear tights and it is one of my only shirts that cover my bottom.  :)
It has been a fun challenge finding different outfits from my existing clothes.  I'll post a few pics after 30 days.  Stay tuned.

Reflections

Today is a good day.  While rocking Raleigh to sleep I started thinking about this day last year.  Tears streamed down my face as I started reflecting on the greatness of all that happened and all that could have been.

This is the day the doctor came into my hospital room and told me they were going to put me on a ventilator to help me stay alive. What I didn't know is that meant I would be put into a coma, which I find was a good thing because I was already afraid of what the other meant.  Anyways, for five days I had no idea that my life existed.

You may be thinking that I bring this up a lot. Well, it's part of my story now.  It doesn't define me but it's changed my life.  See, the enemy tried to take my life.  He steals, kills and destroys.  I do not believe for one second that God brought this on me to teach me a lesson but I will testify that my God is in the restoring business.  What the enemy meant for harm, God will turn it around for the good.  I'm so thankful.  In reality I would have been fine if I hadn't made it.  Being a new mom makes me grateful though, that I get to experience my child growing and learning.  It is one of the most precious gifts I have ever been given.  Children really are a blessing from The Lord.

This next week I'm going to celebrate and enjoy my days.  I want to always have a thankful heart. I am moving past feeling like a victim of the enemies schemes.  I am victorious, I'm alive!

This next week I am expectant of restoration.  I missed five days of my life and almost two weeks away from my baby.  I don't know what this restoration looks like but whatever it is, it will be good.

So yeh, it's a good day.

Psalm 30:3 "God, my God, I yelled for help and you put me together.  God, you pulled me out of the grave, gave me another chance at life when I was down-and-out."

Sweet memories

The storm tonight woke Raleigh up. Every time she would close her eyes it would thunder.  So, there I stood, over her crib so she would be assured that everything was okay.  As I stood there I started humming a little ol' hymn that my grandmother used to sing to me.

'Til the storm passes over, 'til the thunder sounds no more, ' til the clouds roll forever from the sky.  Keep me safe let me stand, in the hollow of thy hand. Keep me safe 'til the storm goes by."  

When I was a child afraid of a storm I would sing that song until the storm was over.  That simple song would bring me such peace, even as a child.  I can't help but be so thankful for the influence of my loving grandparents.  They were a safe place for me and they instilled the love of God in me that I never even understood until I was an adult.  Every night as I rock Raleigh to sleep I sing hymns and every time I think of my grandmother.  She's never wavered in her love for The Lord even after losing her life-long companion.  What an example and a joy she is. She has taught me to stand firm in what I believe and no matter how boisterous the storm may be, we have a peace speaker and we must keep going in faith, full force! 

Sweet, sweet memories. 

30 day challenge

This morning I was thinking of something very random.  I have a ton of clothes that I don't wear.  As I picked out my shirt for work.  I got to thinking "what if I wear a new shirt everyday for the next month?"  I think I would find some shirts that I have purchased and never even worn or shirts that I like but are hidden between other clothes.  I have a tendency to be an outfit repeater.  I have a few items that I love so I end up wearing them over and over!  I think my new item of choice is my blue jean sleeveless shirt.  Well, who can blame me?  It goes with everything!

So, I am challenging myself to do a new shirt a day for the next 30 days.  Here is today's.

I know it's not very amazing, I got it at Goodwill and wanted to try it out.  I always find shirts that are a "good deal" at Goodwill or consignments and end up just hanging them up, never to be seen again.  Well, that got me to thinking that I'd also challenge myself not to buy anything for the next 30 days.  Whew! That's gonna be a hard one for this girl.  I love, love to shop.  I especially love to hunt for good finds. It's one of my favorite past times. :)

So, here it is.  I've put it in writing so now I have to stick to it!  Hold me accountable you fellow bloggers.  I'm sure my husband will do a good job at that as well.

Thank you for reading this very meaningless blog.