I am currently reading through Proverbs and tonight I was stopped dead in my tracks.

I am currently reading through Proverbs and tonight I was stopped dead in my tracks.

Proverbs 17:14 Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam; so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out.

Bam. It's like that V8 commercial - I just got slapped in the forehead. I have heard that saying "pick your battles" but man, I am the first one go admit that I will pick a battle and beat it to death. I don't know how to let things go, especially when I feel as though I have been wronged.

A few verses later I stumble upon this verse 19:13b "...and a quarrelsome wife is like a constant dripping"

I am sure we have all heard our fair sure of faucets that will not shut off and man it is unbearably annoying. I tend to bring up the same quarrel again and again with my husband. I can't seem to bite my tongue, especially when I feel I am right.

Wives, how do you do it? I need some advice badly! I want to be able to drop the matter before I start a quarrel and I don't want to be annoying to my husband by constantly bringing them same thing up.
How do you solve conflict in your marriage?

Love Food and Live Well

I was recently sent Love Food and Live Well by Chantel Hobbs to review. It came at just the right time. I have been so overwhelmed, upset, downtrodden…the list goes on and on, about my weight situation. I am about 40lbs heavier than I want to be. I have huge issues and struggle with food. I could eat a whole bag of Oreos if you set the package in front of me. I eat until it hurts.

The problem is, I know better. I SO know better. Chantel Hobbs came to me at the right time. In her book she discusses how she came to her end too. She was very overweight and knew that she had to change.

Love Food Live Well has great advice, words of encouragement and a strategic plan to get healthy. The first part starts with God. I am not addicted to drugs or alcohol, but I am addicted to food. I broke down and started praying, because I knew that I could not do this alone. I am going to depend on God to help me, to give me strength. Instead of grabbing a cookie on a bad day, I will pray. Instead of going for seconds, I will go for my bible.

Secondly, I am going to change the way I eat. Chantel has a great plan. It is 80/20 plan. 80% of my daily calories need to be energy food, healthy food that will give me the energy and fuel I need to make it through the day. Only 20% of my daily calories can be “snack” food or food that does not benefit my body in any way. I am striving more toward a 90/10 percentage, but I am sure that there will be days where I need a little treat.  Although, when I am having a treat it will not be a reward.

I am also adding a active workout routine. Chantel describes and gives visuals of her workout in the book. I have started (today was my first day) getting up at 6am and working out for 45 minutes in my basement. I have a bunch of workout videos and am going to alternate them. I cannot tell you how amazing I felt this morning when I was done with my workout. I need to remember that feeling when I do not want to roll out of bed.

I am excited. I feel different than I have before. I think giving up the control and knowing that I cannot do it all on my own is the way to go. God wants me healthy just as much as I do!

"Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul."  (3 John: 1-2)

Grace

My growth group (like a bible study group) has been working on starting a 20 something group at our church. Some of us, myself included are at a spot that doesn’t “fit” with other groups in the church. I am too old for college, too young for 30 somethings, too unlike most of the woman in a women’s group, so I just don’t fit or relate at this point.

Val, our amazing growth group leader has such a heart for our age group and has also had a passion to start something more at our church. At first we are just working to grow our growth groups. Once we are around 50 to 100 people we are looking to start a weekly service. I am hoping we get together for a “coffee shop” type of service with awesome current worship music and sermons centered around and given by 20 Somethings.

As we began to have discussions about getting everything together I could feel my insides start to retreat. It is so hard to think of trying to bring other people to Christ or help them get involved when I know I am far from perfect.

I have strayed outside of that path and made mistakes, and although I am forgiven in Heaven, people know that I am far from perfect. A lot of the reasons that people have moved farther and farther away from God is because of human error. We are imperfect, hurt each other, are hypocritical and sometimes more judgmental than those who know the Lord.

I know God used people who were prostitutes, outsiders, had speech impediments, ect. but sometimes it is so hard to believe that I am called to reach out to others my age and help them get involved in a growth group and hopefully church.

I don’t feel like I am equipped to do things. I feel like even with the best intentions I step on people’s toes or say things wrong. I care too much and take things to heart when I shouldn’t.

I just pray that above all my imperfections someone can come to the Lord. It has been the biggest struggle in my life to witness to those who know me, because along with knowing I am a Christian, they also know I am a sinner. It is hard to show them the holiness I desire for them to see but I know that they are certainly grasping my need for grace and forgiveness.

Fulfill a Need

I have been reading a devotional through YouVersion titled a Divinely Inspired Life. I have LOVED this devotional, which is a 21 day study based on a book written by Elizabeth Babtunde, “Footprints on the Moon.” I have enjoyed it so much I wanted to share one of my favorite days so far with you.

Fulfill a Need
We have all been created to fulfill a need.
In the history of Israel, Joseph was born to save them from starvation, Moses was created to deliver them from slavery and Esther was divinely appointed to prevent their extinction. Even outcasts from the nation of Israel, like Rahab the prostitute who helped Joshua and his men, had their use.
Whether big or small, recorded or unrecorded, notable or unknown to the public, you were born to fulfill a need. That need arose even before your birth.
Jesus Christ came to the earth to fulfill the ultimate need of mankind; the need for a Savior. Even He breaks it down further and describes the brevity of that need in Luke 4:17-18. As seen in today's reading, Jesus' disciples continued to fulfill people’s needs even after His ascension to heaven. The greatest need God created you for is in the reconciliation of man to Himself. You were created to promote the Kingdom of God and facilitate the return of man into a relationship with God.
All around you are people who need you. Your role might be to act as an evangelist sharing the Gospel, or to serve others as a witness to Christ, or to be a good example of Christ at your work place.
Whatever you do, fulfill the need to the glory of God.

Goal setting challenge part 2

The goal setting challenge (part 2) from Total Woman Tuesdays is to: break down our annual goals into measurable and attainable short-term goals. We are encouraged to break down each goal into smaller steps to help increase daily, weekly and monthly changes. Working daily on our goals will help obtain the goal this time next year.

Here is my list of goals and my daily, weekly and monthly short-term goals:

1. I have grown in the Lord.
1. Daily: I will spend time in the word daily
2. Weekly: I will attend bible study and church to grow in knowledge and fellowship
3. Monthly: I will read and blog about faith based books/sermons
2. I am closer to my husband and we have strong marriage.
1. Daily: I will spend daily quality time with my husband even when we are both busy
2. Weekly: Keep the house clean and chores up to date so we can have time to relax together
3. Monthly: Have a special date time where we can be alone together and enjoy each other’s company
3. I have maintained a budget, paid off debt and started a "fun fund."
1. Daily: Make conscious decisions about whether or not I need to spend the money before spending
2. Weekly: Clip coupons, read couponing blogs and make a list of food/merchandise we need for that week according to the sales
3. Monthly: Place at least $50 in a “fun fund” not to be touched until we plan a vacation – should be at least $600 by the end of the year
4. I eat healthy, avoid foods that do not benefit my body and restrain from junk food.
1.  Daily: Track the food I eat during the day
2. Weekly: Work out at least 3 times a week
3. Monthly: Read motivational  or educational blogs/books to help increase knowledge and motivate myself to continue
5. I have found a job that makes me happy, honors God and benefits my family.
1. Daily: I will continue to work in my job knowing that I am committing my work to God
2. Weekly: I will read, write, blog, ect and really look into who I am and what job would fit me well
3. Monthly: Watch job posting boards, talk to others around me and get involved with actives that will help me find “what I want to be when I get older”

Biking without air

Today I was riding my bike to a gas station about half a mile away from my house. The tires were no flat, but close. The whole ride there was a struggle. I had to bike harder, exert more energy and push myself to press down on my pedal.

Finally I made it to the gas station and I was already sick of biking. Not a good sign when I had to turn around and go home. I filled the tires and set out again.

But it was awesome. The air in the tires meant that the bike worked like it should. I felt like I was gliding through the air. I ended up biking home and then going further because I was not ready to stop.

As I was riding, reveling in the joy of the ease of the ride rather than struggling to pedal and barely get along, I realized how life can be the same way.

When I am reading the Bible, following God’s path, striving to be holy and staying within the boundaries of God’s plan for me, I am on the bike with tires full of air.

But, when I stop reading the bible, stop following God’s path, throw being holy out the window, I start to struggle. Life doesn’t seem to work, it’s harder than it should be and it feels hopeless.

When I start to “feel good” about life I start letting air out of my “tires” and I relax on being diligent with my devotional life, prayer life and fellowship with other Christians, I start to go flat and struggle.
Flat doesn’t work for me. I have thought that I could make it on my own too many times. I struggled on flat tires with extra problems throughout my life. It often feels like I am on a roller coaster and 90% of the time I spent on the uphill side.

I took 28 years to learn that staying with God’s plan, staying close to God with prayer and reading His word and surrounding myself with others who believe as I do, is the only way to go. No more running on empty, this girl is going filling up her tires with the good stuff.

Awesome free/cheap silly gifts

Oh my goodness! This site is SO super cute! And right now on SaveMore.com you can get a voucher for $11 of merchandise for $5 or $25 of merchandise for $12! How awesome is that! I am so excited to get the fang ice cube trays! There is so much I don’t even know what to spend my $25! I am going to buy gifts on this site because they are hilarious and a great price! Check out SaveMore.com for your voucher to AlwaysFits.com and get in on the awesome deal!

Plus, top put the icing on the cupcake, the first time you sign up for SaveMore.com you get $10!!!! This means you can get two $5 vouchers for $22 off of merchandise for FREE or only pay $2 for $25 free! That is an awesome deal!

Money

5 goals

Total Woman Tuesdays at The High-Heeled House Wife has started a goal challenge. I feel that the more I encourage myself and set daily, monthly and yearly goals the better chance I have to push myself to be the woman I want to be.
Choose five statements you would like to be true about yourself a year from now.

Here are my five. I am definately placing #1 very very high in my heart and making sure that God is working in me and through me. In one year I will be able to say:

• I have grown in the Lord.
• I am closer to my husband and we have strong marriage.
• I have maintained a budget, paid off debt and started a "fun fund."
• I eat healthy, avoid foods that do not benefit my body and restrain from junk food.
• I have found a job that makes me happy, honors God and benefits my family.

What are five statements you'd like to be able to make a year from now? Head over to The High Heeled House Wife to read part 2 of this series on goal setting!

Gotta brag a little

 I rock! I got $42.91 worth of stuff for $17 at Walgreens! We should be set on cereal for the next 3 months and I’ll have enough razors at least the end of the year! I saved $25.91 – 40% of my bill!

$4.49 cereal for $1.50

$4.99 ! (normally $0.96 each) (26 individual) razors $1.99 (or $0.39 cents each)! That’s 41% savings!

Nail Designs

SaveMore is offering a $12 voucher to Nail Fraud for just $6 today. Plus, when you sign up for a SaveMore account, you’ll get a free $10 credit added to your account.

With a new account at $10 you get the nail designs for free! How awesome is that! I LOVE them and get tons of compliments on them!

Shipping is free on orders from Nail Fraud so you can get a full set of Finger Nail Polish Designs free with free shipping using the free $12 voucher.

Happy 4th!

Idols

Money. Work. Couponing. Reading. Blogging. Surfing the internet. Watching TV.

Idols every single one of them. Although they don’t have a big belly, three heads or are made out of gold. But they can have the same affect on my relationship with God. They all distract me and keep me distant from God.

It seems that the more time I spend worrying about money, working to make more money, trying to save money, reading books, blogging, playing on the computer and watching TV, the more worries I have.

I have to learn the hard way over and over that I am not in control. Faith is so hard and relying on God is even harder. When I focus on my devotions, praying and living a life I am called to live, it goes so much smoother.

I can feel the devil tugging at me even as I say this. I feel weak for needing God for giving him control or that I am placing the blame for when things don’t go the way I want them to.

The one thing I know and have learned over and over is that faith why we were put here. Sometimes it is hard to believe in God; the more the I seek him the closer and closer I feel to him. And even when life doesn’t go my way I know that it is ok because I am walking in the path I was called to.