Comparison kills

I always listen for Gods direction when thinking about what to write about next. I was listening to an interview on television and the person being interviewed made an insightful statement. She was asked how she is getting through the pandemic and her response was something someone told her. “This pandemic has purpose”. Amen! I agreed whole heartedly because no matter how we view it, we were all going so fast that we were disconnected from who and what is most important to our lives. We thought we were doing what it took to get ahead, to measure up, we were over scheduled and down right tired. Now in many cases, we are looking for something to do other than the kids, the house, and cooking etc.

So don’t listen to the voices, the posts, the haters that say “You didn’t do anything with this time, other people did….” Don’t fall for the hype.

If you rested and feel refreshed, if you renewed your spiritual life, if you read your Bible and prayed more, if you ate dinner together as a family, if you sat quietly with your spouse for the first time in a long time and had quality conversations, if you played with your children and listened to what was on their minds, then my dear hearts, you have done well.

We must stop comparing ourselves to others, that’s what got us running tirelessly to and fro in order to “measure up” to others. Why???? Comparison kills! It kills the authentic you, it kills your joy and it robs you of your energy.

God made you individual and specific for the life He meant for you to live.

Psalm 139:13-14 For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope

Psalm 139:13-14

For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.”

You Don’t Know Everything!

I have found in my marriage as well as in life, just about any real issue I’ve experienced is as a direct result of a decision or a choice that I made without praying, without asking God if I should or shouldn’t… God’s word assures us that if we acknowledge Him (as our all wise God), He will direct us “if we allow Him to”.

Have you ever wondered why you seem to always end up doing the thing you know you should not? It’s because “we are born in sin and shaped in iniquity”, we are naturally sinful beings (Psalm 51:5). We make bad choices and decisions, then we point the finger of blame in any direction other than back at ourselves when everything falls apart.

If you want to make fewer mistakes in order to have a better life, better relationships, happiness, and peace of mind, start by asking God about everything important to you before you make a move. It’s not a sign of weakness or an inability to make your own decisions, it’s about letting Him who created you, keep you from taking unnecessary detours on the way to a successful, happy and a productive life. He made us, and as our Creator, He knows everything about His creation!

Psalm 119:116 Uphold me according to your word, that I may live..

Psalm 32:8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you shall go: …

I hid behind My Father and I was Safe

This morning I woke up with this thought, “I am Safe”.

I was full of sadness about losing my sweet little dog (Charlie) recently and consumed with the thought of people dying suddenly when I remembered that my Father was strong and big and all powerful! He is after all The “Creator of life”

The enemy was once again planting thoughts of fear and sadness in me, planting thoughts of my own demise. Even though I don’t fear death, as a mother and a wife I am always concerned with leaving my family behind. I know how close I am to my husband, my children and my grandchildren and I know it would be hard for them to be left without my presence. That’s what the enemy of all that is good attempts to torment me with from time to time.

It’s always interesting when I find myself recounting Gods words and trusting in Him to protect me just the way my earthly father did for me. He was a big man, so gentle and loving but I know God loves me more.

It takes a minute sometimes to realize what’s happening but when I do, I simply tell him (the devil) “he has no power to take my life, I am not afraid of death because I know that death is not the end. I am strong in the Lord, I am fearfully and wonderfully made and I am promised by God a long, joy filled and healthy life when I live for God. I told satan (out loud) to get out of my head, leave my thoughts. I told him “The Holy Spirit lives in me, you have no power” and what do you know, the Peace of God took over.

It doesn’t always happen immediately but it did in that moment and for that I am so truly thankful.

John 3:16

For God so loved the world, He gave His only son

Ps 139:14

I praise You because I’m am fearfully and wonderfully made

Ps 91:14

“Because he loves me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name 15. he will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.

It’s No “BIG” Deal

During Covid, my husband and I like many of you have spent more time together than in many years past. What I’ve found about myself is that I began pointing out his habits such as suckling his teeth after every single meal or snack instead of using a tooth picks (which I strategically placed near him), I even focused on how he fidgets with his mustache while watching television!

Yes! I was being “trifling” nagging him about insignificant things! I think It’s one of the things that happens when we grow older and comfortable together 🤔 but more importantly, I realized I was unhappy with being stuck at home day in and day out, that was my real problem because I don’t recall this being a big problem before Covid and I doubt that I’m alone in this situation so don’t judge me too harshly ;o)

My solution has been not to focus on my husband or his habits but to focus on what my own issue was. Why does his fidgeting with his face or sucking his teeth get under my skin so.

The first thing I realized was, it was one of my mother’s pet peeves (Our issues become our children’s issues) or the fact that he was annoying me and didn’t seem to care. Now don’t get me wrong, I know I’m important to him and I know he cares about how I feel but because we sit side by side most evenings now, his habits have only been magnified (the devil)!

The point I’m trying to make is, I love him and my nagging him won’t work at all in a positive way. It will actually work in the reverse, it will cause him to rebel or maybe even to become angry if he feels picked on constantly! I certainly don’t want that!

So I have resigned myself to find the good! Remove myself from the situation and remind myself that I have habits he simply ignores or deals with but most of all, I have a wonderful life because of this man, as my mother often reminded me early in my marriage, “he is such a good man don’t be mean to him”. So as much as I find some of his habits irritating, I love him more.

Update; He just sucked his teeth again but he reminded me as I got up to leave the room (coping) when it’s brought to his attention, he remembers not to do it 😩. “it’s just a silly habit”

Proverbs 27:15 A continual drip on a rainy day and a quarrelsome wife are alike;

Proverbs 21:9 It is better to live in a corner of the housetop than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife.

Two are better than one

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

Two are better than one because they have a good reward for their toil (work), for if one falls, one will lift the other up but woe to Him who is alone when he falls and has no one to lift him up

In these “uncertain times”, pay close attention to those right around you. Ask them if they are really okay! It’s interesting to me how people are pulling away, not being open and honest about how they really feel emotionally, physically or spiritually so maybe if you ask the question, it will invoke an honest response and start a well needed conversation.

Prayer; Lord, we know that two are better than one as your Word declares even in prayer (Matthew 18:20). This is your design for our lives so help us lift one another up everyday as you have created us to do in our marriage, our family and our relationships. Let our love be selfless toward one another and help us to be ever mindful of others.

This we ask in the Precious and Powerful name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ

Amen

Chasing purpose

Be the best you today for The Kingdom, that’s all God requires of you. It’s just that simple, live for today.

Love is Patient

I started memory verse cards and prayers on the back of them a few months ago for the purpose of a small group for married women. I would like to share some of them with you

1 Corinthians 14:4-8

Love is patient, love is kind, it does not envy (resentful of others/ possessions). It does not boast, it is not proud, it does not dishonor others, it is not selfish or self seeking, it is not easily angered, it does not keep record of wrong doing. Love does not delight in others being mistreated but rejoices in the truth and always protects, trusts, hopes and preserves. Love never fails

Thank you Lord for this day, for new mercy and for Grace. Give us unconditional and passionate love for each other AGAIN. Grow us in patience, kindness, respect and honor for each other. Help us to no longer keep record of wrong doing between us and may our love never fail, in Jesus name

Amen

Proud Mama Moment

You know how it feels to have children and to be proud of them?

Well just let me say that I am so proud of both my children. My son who is a husband and father and a Chief Petty Officer in the United States Navy. He is a mentor to many and a witness for the kingdom of God and one of the funniest people you will ever meet.

My daughter has always been a little more on the serious side. She is a mother and a wife to my son in law who is a Master Sergeant in the United States Air Force. Since high school she has been a lifeline of support to so many of her friends, family members and even to perfect strangers.

She has had a passion for writing and helping others for much of her life, so she put her love of both into a 21 day devotional “Day 1”

Her book is now available on Amazon and it would be a wonderful Spiritual gift for life and as a holiday gift

I’m so thankful to God that my children absorbed the example we set for them as they were growing up. We were not perfect but we were always striving to please God and to be patient and loving parents. I’m also thankful for the truth of Gods word because He has blessed our family greatly because of our obedience to His word!

Corinda is a certified Life Coach and has a Masters degree in Christian and family counseling.

You can find her devotional under her name, “Corinda Wilson Day 1”

Be Authentically You, No One Else

I wonder if anyone other than myself has noticed in most television and internet interviews (Zoom calls) of the rich and famous, they for the most part don’t live life “over the top” (huge fancy homes) as we think they do. Their homes look like some of ours, yet so many of us are striving for what we think the “lifestyle of the rich and famous” looks like; bigger,better, best! They can afford the finer things in life but seem to be living beneath their means.

Let’s learn another life lesson from COVID-19, let’s live within our own means, no one else’s. Let’s stop trying to impress people who don’t matter to our true happiness. When we close our doors to the outside world all that should matter is what brings us true happiness and satisfaction.

Comparison kills spirits and relationships and will keep us unhappy, in debt and stressed out trying to live “The good life”

Bigger is not always better! Find inner peace through knowing that God is going to take care of you.

Trust Him enough to know what He wants for you. Eternal life and fullness of joy here on earth.

3 John 2-5

Trying times again

When God allows a “Storm” in your life, it has a purpose and He is going to be with you through it! One of my favorite Gospel radio personalities KD Bowe Praise 102.5 Atlanta said recently, “It matters not so much what we go through but it is more about how we go through hard times that can either draw us closer to God or cause us to fall away from Him“.

Hardships are a part of life but just as a young man I heard interviewed after the Houston flood understood that if God brought him and his family to this point in his life (The loss of everything he possessed) he believed that God would bless him to get through it. He didn’t sound bitter at all, as a matter of fact, when asked by the reporter what he was going to do, his response was “I don’t know but I’m thankful, then he said “God is good”. He was thankful and he recognized that he and his family were safe and were going to be fine, and I believe they will because he stood for the kingdom of God proudly and boldly in the face of what may have been his darkest moment as a young man, a husband and a father. His heart was pure in the midst of total devastation, and his trust was in God.

Gods word says “Man born of a woman is of a few days and full of trouble” Job 14:1, and as hard as it seems during those trying times, they are meant to strengthen our faith in God because we are trusting Him to help us through it, James 1:3. So, yes it matters more how we go through tough times than it does what we go through.