Mesage Monday: Just for Me

This...this today...this one is just for me.

Romans 7:15

The Message (MSG)

^14-16I can anticipate the response that is coming: "I know that all God's commands are spiritual, but I'm not. Isn't this also your experience?" Yes. I'm full of myself—after all, I've spent a long time in sin's prison. What I don't understand about myself is that I decide one way, but then I act another, doing things I absolutely despise. So if I can't be trusted to figure out what is best for myself and then do it, it becomes obvious that God's command is necessary.


How I know that today, of all days (maybe everyday...yes everyday) do I need God's grace. You see it's easy to fall back into old ways-old habits- after a season of Epiphany. And I have let him (not Him) whisper things that I have long forgotten. I let him play with my mind.
I cannot be trusted. But HE can. I trust Him. I trust.
God's grace...God's grace.


No need to try and make sense of my wanderings today...remember this one is just for me.
Lindsey

Let's Play Catch-Up

So in the past couple weeks since I last wrote, I have:

Gutted my house for a garage sale. I do mean gut. We sold ALL of our living room furniture, an entire bedroom suite, patio furniture and a tireless amount of junk. We did this sale with 2 other families and had a ball. But to be honest...it was way harder to get ready for and execute with a toddler running around. Every time I pulled out an old toy of hers to sell, she all of the sudden had a new found interest in it. Every time I pulled out an old box of stuff to go through she wanted in on the action and would begin scattering it all about our house.
For a few days there I truly thought I was going to lose my mind by living in all that filth. My daughter for days had what my husband likes to call "grocery store feet" from running around our house (grocery store feet is when they are black from dirt on the bottoms). Gross I know.

After Gutting my house we hosted the garage sale. We were very successful. We made over a $1200. You should read my husbands post about what to do with your money you make from a garage sale.
We took the money and bought all new furniture. We get house fever alot and a better option for us than going to purchase a new home is to make our home feel new again. Hence selling off everything we own and buying all new stuff works for us.

Which brings me to the third thing I had to do before we bought our new furniture and while the house was gutted. CLEAN! Like baseboards and stuff. NOT FUN! VERY TIMING CONSUMING! COMPLETELY EXHAUSTING!
But done...never-the-less.

Fourth...we went and bought all new furniture. This was a lot of fun! And as I type I am sitting on my incredibly, wonderfully, soft new couch that I LOVE! I feel like I moved into a new house <3

Finally I have reorganized...and continued to throw things out. You never know how much junk you have until you start organizing things. My husband has given me a new rule it's a one for one rule. Anytime you buy a new pair of shoes you throw out a pair. Anytime you buy a new dress you get rid of a dress. This is really helping me to declutter and get rid of things I don't use.

So if you have been wondering where I have been and why I haven't been blogging...this is why! I have been busy!

But I am back now. And much more comfortable in my "new" home.

Lindsey

Message Monday

So there is something you should know about me... I can be mean.
Mean, Mean, Mean.

When I get tired, stressed, lonely, hurt or sometimes for know reason at all (my husband is shaking his head in agreement) I can just be plain old mean.

Hence this morning when I was reading a book... which I will blog about tomorrow on... I came across this verse and have decided to practice what it preaches.

You may not be mean like me sometimes...but everyone can use a little truth.

Ephesians 4:31-32 (The Message)
 ^31-32Make a clean break with all cutting, backbiting, profane talk. Be gentle with one another, sensitive. Forgive one another as quickly and thoroughly as God in Christ forgave you.
(NIV)
³¹ Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. ³² Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Getting rid of ALL of it,
Lindsey

Kids and Money

So have I told you that I have an awesome, wise and talented husband? Cause I do!

And today, among everyday, I am very proud of him. Today he has guest posted on a favorite blog of mine Parentzilla. One of our good friends started the site to teach parents how to handle their teenagers. Caroline has several years until we get there, but with the great amount of information you get from this site will make those years easier to digest. So if you don't know Parentzilla...get to know them!

But back to my husband...here he is the handsome man.

This week he started his blog about financial planning, advice and coaching. Chris Campbell's Blog is a great place to have some of your questions answered about budgeting, major financial decisions and overall to do's and not to do's. So go see it...and follow it. He is planning on guest posting for me monthly about teaching your children about money, and also about personal finance. As women we need to know what's going on in that area if we don't already.

But today I want you to read his post about 5 Ways To Help Your Teenager With Money.
It's  a great introduction to him and who he is...plus you get to visit Parentzilla! Really cool huh?

Let me know what you think...

Proud Wife,
Lindsey

Message Monday: The Beginning of Holy Week

He came. On a donkey.

One that had never been ridden. Because no one could do what He was going to do. He was the only one who could ever do what He was about to do. Because...HE IS JESUS.

The one and only. The only god we chase after who can where the title of Savior.

This is the beginning of Holy week. The week we celebrate the last few days, hours and minutes of this God-Man's life. The life that has swept mine up into His. He who has saved me from utter darkness. He who just simply Is.

They welcomed Him with the laying down of their coats, the laying down and waving of palm branches. The crying of the word "Hosanna!" which aptly means "SAVE US!" was ringing throughout the city.

They didn't want to be saved the way He was going to save them. He would die a horrific death and thus destroy their dreams of being the king they expected. They were going to be disappointed.

If they only could see what we see...how his death has saved so many of our lives. How it has saved mine.

Read his triumphal entry. Let it change you.

The Royal Welcome

^1-3When they neared Jerusalem, having arrived at Bethphage on Mount Olives, Jesus sent two disciples with these instructions: "Go over to the village across from you. You'll find a donkey tethered there, her colt with her. Untie her and bring them to me. If anyone asks what you're doing, say, 'The Master needs them!' He will send them with you."
^4-5This is the full story of what was sketched earlier by the prophet:

Tell Zion's daughter,
"Look, your king's on his way,
poised and ready, mounted
On a donkey, on a colt,
foal of a pack animal."
^6-9The disciples went and did exactly what Jesus told them to do. They led the donkey and colt out, laid some of their clothes on them, and Jesus mounted. Nearly all the people in the crowd threw their garments down on the road, giving him a royal welcome. Others cut branches from the trees and threw them down as a welcome mat. Crowds went ahead and crowds followed, all of them calling out, "Hosanna to David's son!" "Blessed is he who comes in God's name!" "Hosanna in highest heaven!"
¹⁰As he made his entrance into Jerusalem, the whole city was shaken. Unnerved, people were asking, "What's going on here? Who is this?"
¹¹The parade crowd answered, "This is the prophet Jesus, the one from Nazareth in Galilee."

Humbled,
Lindsey