create

singing psalms has always calmed my heart. whenever i find myself in discord, i always sing this. thank you Jesus for your power to renew me!

"create in me a clean heart oh God
and renew a right spirit within me
cast me not away from your precense oh lord
and take not your holy spirit from me
restore unto me
the joy of your salvation
and renew a right spirit within me."

How to Conquer Comparisons by Lysa Terkheurst

*comparisons are always something I have struggled with.  How easy is it to do? So easy!, if we are not living a "controlled thought life" and being happy being perfectly equipped to be our own selves. Wow. *

How to Conquer Comparisons

Have you ever questioned why God isn't blessing you in the same way as someone else? When I

find myself making comparisons and wanting what someone else has, I must consciously choose

to redirect my thinking. Too many of us live with an uncontrolled thought life. It is possible to

learn to identify destructive thoughts and make wiser choices. Instead of letting these thoughts

rumble freely about in my mind, I make the choice to harness them and direct them toward truth.

Think of something you want that someone else has. Have you been lured into thinking, “If only

I had ___________________ like that person, my life would be great!”

Now, practice redirecting those thoughts by saying instead:

I am not equipped for her good.

I am not equipped for her bad.

I am not equipped to carry the weight of her victories.

I am not equipped to shoulder her burdens.

I am not equipped to be her in any way.

I am, however, perfectly equipped to be me.

Therefore, thank You, God, for only entrusting me with what I have and who I am.

When I compare myself to others and focus on wanting what they have, it quite simply wears me

out trying to figure out how to have more, be more, and do more. That’s why Jesus instructs

worn-out people, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will

find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28–30).

Note a couple key words in these verses. A “yoke” is a wooden frame used to harness two draft

animals to whatever they have to pull. The Greek word for “easy” can also mean “well-fitted.”

Combine this information together and it appears that Jesus is saying He has equipped each of us

with well-fitted assignments in life. As long as we do and aspire to only what He calls us, our

burden will not only be manageable, it will be light.

It’s also interesting to note that when an animal is in training, a farmer will often put it in a head

yoke rather than a neck yoke to keep the animal from looking around and getting anxious. I think

my head yoke has been the thought-redirecting statement, “I’m not equipped to handle what they

have—both good and bad.” It sure has stopped me from looking around and getting anxious!

For more information on this topic, read Lysa’s book,

Becoming More Than a Good Bible Study Girl.

Lysa TerKeurst

following Jesus Christ. As president of Proverbs 31 Ministries, Lysa has led

thousands to make their walk with God an invigorating journey. For more

information, visit www.LysaTerKeurst.com

To purchase this resource click on Shop P31 at

helps everyday women live an adventure of faith throughwww.Proverbs31.org© 2010 by Lysa TerKeurst. All rights reserved.

welcome fall

fall

leaves

red

spice tea-bannana-fire chatting-mid 50's-cinnamon sticks-pumpkins-octoberfests-thankfulness-foot ball games-candle burning-just plain in love

with fall.



Under the Covers

Consider me a LAZY DAISY

After 10:05.
Needless to say, I should not be held responsible for words typed passed 10:05

So I'm going to forget my own words and rely on someone else :
  
 This little blip caught my attention on the radio on the way home from work. Much needed encouragement & a lesson in confidence. Perhaps that's not something you struggle with today, but I feel certain that at some point in our lives we all question whether we are "enough" in some capacity or another. I know I certainly do every day and feel as if I could have always done more. . .So much so that by 10:05 I simply feel spent and need to read rather than write, or soak in someone else's words & encouragement. I hope that this video touches you in the same way it touched me


http://vimeo.com/soundpostproductions/reneeswopeaconfidentheartsv

much love and confidence,
em




 

What’s Your Musical Memory?

Goodness if Music doesn't take you back or forward or somewhere in between, then I don't think we can be friends. I say this with confidence, because I am fairly certain that music takes just about everyone to a certain spot in their lives.

A Musical History by Emily H. Nelson

-I was raised on slow and easy listening stations, as well as the good old oldies. My daddy sang "I wanna hold your hand" at me everytime we were together, "My Girl," etc…he still does.

-My mom is the type who typically asks, have you heard this song and then starts singing it, not a few lines, but like the whole thing. She also could probably think of a song for every sentence you say to her. She will burst into song. It's not unusual. Whether its recent favorites like Jar of Hearts or a Stevie Wonder song, she's coming at you no notes barred. She has a beautiful voice.

-Toni Bennett makes me cry, as well as Christmas music favorites like Andy Williams and don't even GET me started on Perry Como. Oh Perry Como. Melts. My. Heart. And makes me cry and then laugh and then want some serious hot chocolate.

-In highschool I kind of listened to whatever was burned to me. Lucky for me I had lots of wonderful friends with lots of wonderful music tastes. A good harmony would get me in choir. There were songs we sang like the Hallelujah chorus that would literally give me chills. Or singing in the rotunda…okay I will stop, getting slightly dorky. Or riding home from school with a CD made by that SOS and knowing just knowing they picked that song just for you…which I'm sure wasn't always true but it made high-school that much more romantic.

-When Kurt and I met it was all country all the time. I remember listening to him sing Brad Paisley and *swooning* -- something about a good old country song that will get you everytime. I remember we would ride in the car and he didn't seem to mind me belting out my favorite songs, and he certainly wasn't shy about it either. We would ride down Highway 6 and back, just to listen.

-Going through my ipod today, I realized that my "most played" playlist was identical to that of my Baby Ballet CDS…uh oh. Looks like I need a music-makeover, or need to spend some time soaking in the tunes. I got on the treadmill and the WAKA WAKA song came on, its Shakira, don't judge…but I could literally not stand still. Obviously danced on the treadmill.

Sam Cooke is my Saturday obsession

"Darling you-ooo-ooo-send me"

There have been songs I have tried to forget, lots I can't remember exactly, and then some I hear in the car with friends and magically know every single word. What's your musical story? What musical memories will you never forget?

Music, oh I love you.

God broke the mold when he gave us music, didn't he?

 

Xoxo Emily

 

 

 

Big Hearted

These beautiful creatures have a heart the size of a VW Bug! Can you imagine that? This video reminded me of how much I love sea creatures, DOLPHINS especially. I used to have a dolphin collection of sorts that would have made my DDD friends proud.

Makes me feel so small and insignifcant, thankfully so. "I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean!" Sing it Lee Ann! 

Happy Tuesday Yall!

perspective

the things i have worried over this week have included superficial concerns of many kinds, most of which have revolved around minor inconveniences of my every day life

such as

not getting my coffee
running late to ballet
nearly running out of gas  on the interstate
going grocery shopping every other day
"stress" (this is an abstract word i use when i don't really know what else to say)
not having something new to wear out to eat
and not getting 8 hrs of sleep

each night.

newsflash :: i am beyond blessed that my everyday concerns are comfort factors i have tricked myself into believing are required. reflecting on 9.11 i am incredibly thankful--

i am alive, life is so good, and above all GOD is in control and my all in all.

this week im challenging myself to live blessed, starbucks or no & to concentrate on things of eternal importance.

10 years later and it still brings me to tears, to my knees, but most of all it brings me back to focus, perspective.