Attitude is Everything!

Last week was a bad week for me. I let myself become easily frustrated with people, I became cranky and short when replying to even a few friends, and I had a bad attitude. (Can anyone relate?) The problem was, I didn't want to have a bad attitude, I wanted to be my ol' fun, pleasant self! But I was having a difficult time shaking the attitude I had picked up.

Thankfully, my time in praise and worship at church yesterday was just the medicine I needed to snap me out of MY attitude! I just had to get me out of the way and turn my attitude to praise. Praise fixes a lot of things in our lives, you know? 

Think about this...

• If you don't know where to turn or what to do, praise God.
• If you're having a bad day or bad attitude, praise God.
• If you don't know what decision to make about a certain situation, praise God.
• If you are having a great day, praise God.
• If you need direction, praise God.
• If a situation causes you to become fearful, praise God!

I know that when we praise, it allows us to get out of God's way so He can do what He wants and needs to do in our lives. What are you allowing to get in the way of your praise? 

Have a blessed week!

Lyn~

Homeschooling Hump Day Encouragement

Today's article is later than planned, but I wanted to encourage you to take time to watch the inauguration this morning with your children. This process is what makes America so great. There will be the ceremony of swearing in, a big celebration following President Trump and Vice President Pence's oaths, and there will likely be coverage of those protesting the events.

I think this is a great time to talk to your kids about the things you believe, maybe even who you voted for and why, what the newly elected president means for America, and any part of the process that they ask questions about. Share this time with them. In the next 4 years, they will be older, understand more, and have different questions. Some of your children may even be close to voting age and can participate in their first election, too!

This is our nation's peaceful transfer of power from the outgoing President Obama to the incoming President Trump. The new president will discuss his plans to "Make America Great Again," and how he plans to implement those plans. Let us also remember that when our candidate has not been chosen, it is important as Christians to pray for our elected officials, whether we chose them or not. 

I saw a saying on Facebook recently that said wanting (a particular president) to fail is like wanting the pilot of a plane you're on to crash. We don't want to see the United States fail, and the best thing (maybe the only thing) we can do in every election is to pray for our leaders. Won't you join us and pray for President Donald Trump today, for our Congressmen, and for our former presidents and vice presidents. Take the time today to pray for our country!

Enjoy this special day with your children and remember, learning never stops!


Have a blessed day!


Lyn~

Friday 'Fess Up

Last week, I told you about our furnace going out. Things weren't immediately resolved, and got even worse overnight. I could have let anger intrude on what God was already working out, and for a moment, I tried to push God out and tried to figure things out on my own. But God has much better plans and works all things to our good.

Needless to say, the furnace is heating the house again! Had my husband not received a bonus at work, we wouldn't have had the money to fix the furnace, but God provided. Even when things seem impossible or we feel like it's not something that we should bother the Lord with, He's already got the solution to our problem if we simply step back and let Him do what needs to be done.

My confession this week is that, while I am still working on it, I stepped back and let God provide the solution to this problem. And you know what? It was a better solution than I could have come up with, especially since I wasn't getting anywhere trying to do it myself. And how cool is this? This week, the Lord provided a supernatural blessing that essentially replaced the funds we had to pay out to fix the furnace! Praise the Lord! He's good all the time!!

What have you been trying to figure out on your own recently? What have you been trying to do in your own power not wanting to bother God in the process? Let go of your situation today, and let God provide the solution that He already has for your situation!


Have a blessed weekend!


Lyn~

You...are AMAZING!

I once struggled with a low self-image as I shared last week. The Lord brought even more reminders to me this week of how He sees not only me but all His children! If you're struggling in this area of life, if you need a breakthrough to get that knowledge into your heart , and you've tried getting it in your heart just how valuable you are to God, I want you to know TODAY is your day! 

We've talked a lot about the need to speak those things that are not as though they are (Romans 4:17), and to make declarations (Psalms 73:28, Psalms 23:7). Just as you may have done last week, this week I'd encourage you to print this out and put it somewhere that you can see and speak it daily! 

As you say these declarations, begin to see yourself that way. Insert your name instead of "you." Say, "Lyn, you're amazing, just the way you are! Lyn, you are a woman of beautiful countenance!" You get the idea. Soon, you'll begin to believe and more importantly, you'll begin to see it! Do you see it yet?

Have a great, blessed, wonderful week, Beautiful and Blessed woman!!

Lyn~

Friday 'Fess Up

Last night our furnace failed to kick on. In Colorado, with temperatures in the teens and single digits at night, this is a big deal! I kept thinking that it was going to turn on any moment. I fell asleep a couple of times with this thought, but the heat never came on. The temps inside our home never got that cold, low 60s maybe, but it was the fact that my husband wasn't home to try things to remedy the problem that wore on me. 

My confession today is that I depend on my husband for things like this, to fix and look at and troubleshoot. As wives, we should depend on our husbands for certain things. My list may look different than yours, but our husbands, our partners in life, should be someone we lean on. 

The furnace is still not working, but my husband is home...and so is my son who just moved his family back to Colorado from Nebraska! Together, I'm confident the two of them will have our home heated, warm, and cozy once again! Prayers appreciated that they have favor in getting the furnace fixed and the heat restored SOON!


Have a blessed weekend!


Lyn~

Who Do You See When You Look in the Mirror?

Last week, I revealed my One Word for the year. As I meditated over that word just over the past few days, I realized there was a part I had never considered my word working in...ME! Now you might be thinking, "Of course that word will work in you! You're going to FLOURISH!" Yes, that's what I'm expecting God to do. But what I'm talking about is all of me--my weight, my appearance, my physical strength, the talents the Lord blessed me with, and more!

Perhaps only one other person (my twin) may know of a struggle I've battled throughout my life. You see, I am not bothered with what others think of me. That was hardly ever a struggle for me, especially once I finished high school. I struggled with a much greater person who was very critical of my appearance, my intelligence, and most importantly, my value. That person...was ME. Looking back, I can't even tell you why I was concerned about my appearance or any of those other things except that Satan used those lies to whisper in my ear. It wasn't that I thought about what others would think. I was critical of myself as though I was looking at me from the outside. Satan has a way of weaving lies into our everyday lives, but it's up to us to listen or refuse to hear anything from him!

I remember not too long ago trying on an outfit, asking my husband and children what they thought, getting their approval...and deciding I looked ridiculous. I quickly took off the outfit I had assembled and grabbed another, and the same scenario proceeded again. Why was I not satisfied with the approval of my family? What did they see that I didn't? More importantly, what did I see when I looked in the mirror?

I recently bought a book from a Christian motivational speaker. (Some of you know that I thrive on hearing what Terri Savelle Foy has to say!). Within it is a "pep talk" of declarations to say every day. The awesome thing about making declarations, whether good or bad, is that at some point, what you say, you begin to believe! To be honest, at first, I couldn't speak the declarations. I literally cried every time I tried to utter any of the words! But, as I brushed my teeth each day, I read and said them in my mind. As the days and weeks went by, something began to happen inside me. It wasn't merely just thinking or speaking these words. It was getting those words, those things that are not as though they are, that began to change how I see myself in the mirror and to God. I want to flourish in all areas of my life, and that is what has begun to happen to me--I'm beginning to flourish in the way I see myself!

Here are some declarations to get you started, too:

Feel free to print it out or add to it! Call those things that are not as though they are (Romans 4:17), and believe that whatever you ask for in prayer that you have received and it shall be yours (Mark 11:24)!

If you struggle with your own self-image today, I want to pray for you. I want you to see yourself the way God sees you, and I want you to believe it! You start believing that by making daily declarations and refusing to give into depression. I've been there, and I know how difficult that is. But I've also come out on the other side, and I know that what we speak can change us from the inside out if we will trust God and take that first step of faith uttering that declaration!

Have a blessed week, beautiful mama!!



Lyn~

Friday 'Fess Up

A few months ago, I felt the Lord prompting me to talk to a former employer. You see, I had worked for him doing mostly social media posts and insurance items. He asked that I call some patients from home, but I didn't call all those on the list. I had completely overcommitted myself. My dogs were sick with parvovirus (one of those pups died), and I simply let the work I had said I would do, fall by the wayside. Even worse, I never called, emailed, or messaged my employer, my friend, to let him know what was going on! I had failed in so many ways.

But when I heard the Lord speaking to me, telling me I needed to go to this man and apologize, I hesitated. I didn't know if it was the right time, it certainly didn't feel like it, so I ignored the Lord. Well, my confession is two-fold today. First, I disobeyed the Lord. You see, even delayed obedience is disobedience really. Think about when you ask your child to do something. What happens when they either don't want to do it or ignore you altogether? I know when I ask my kids to do something and they don't, I get irritated and frustrated with them! Our Father God is no different with us. Maybe not the irritated part, but I'm sure He is disappointed when we don't quickly obey.
Second, I did talk to this man as the Lord prompted. He was very nice about everything. I told him there was no excuse but I did want him to know what had gone on and that I did want to rectify things with him, if that was possible. He accepted my apology, forgave me, and we've reconciled our professional relationship. It occurred to me then that had I obeyed sooner, our relationship would have been restored soon. But because of my delayed obedience, I had caused a delay in this restoration! 

How many things would have been repaired, restored, renewed, recovered, or refreshed had I only obeyed the Lord when I first heard him speak to me?

Have you been in a similar situation? While you can't go back and obey immediately, you can obey the first time you hear the Lord from here on out. It takes practice. It takes discipline. It takes a commitment to obey the Lord. It requires you to make a choice to obey immediately.

Have a blessed weekend!!


Lyn~

Homeschool Hump Day Encouragement

Here in Colorado, we are getting ready for some pretty impressive snow storms. On the east coast, they are having rain and freezing rain, too. There is no going outside to play or to do school and even errands are strategically planned. But that doesn't mean you can't get creative in your schooling day just because the weather outside isn't cooperating.

One thing you can do is step away from the normal schooling day. If you usually work in workbooks, put them down. Get out the crayons and paper and just draw or color. Use dry erase markers on your glass doors or windows to draw pictures. Anything to break up the monotony of being inside because of the colder weather. Put on praise and worship music. Sing with your children worshipping the Lord. Dance as Miriam danced and rejoiced. Honor the Lord in these things in our homes not just on Sunday mornings.

As winter weather begins to wreak havoc on our homeschool days, remember to rejoice and have a grateful heart in the midst of the chaos!

Have a blessed week!

Lyn~

One Word-2017

Good morning and Happy New Year, mamas!!

As promised, I'm revealing my One Word today! This year it was difficult to choose just one word for the whole year, though. In the past, the word for the year seemed to come as a gentle whisper from the Lord. But this year, I am hearing several words! Eeek! How do I choose just ONE?! Have you felt this way, too?

I thought I would share some of my choices for my One Word with you. Maybe one of these will end up being your One Word!

• seek
• gratitude
• discipline
• listen
• bold
• persevere

See?! Those are all really good words for the year, aren't they? Did one catch your eye? 

Yesterday in church, we heard a word spoken over 2017. It began with, "The faithful will flourish!" It was then that I knew what my One Word had to be. With this One Word, all those other really good words cause my One Word to happen! 

If I'm seeking the Lord, my spiritual growth will flourish!

If I'm expressing gratitude, my thanks will flourish!

If I'm disciplined, financially, physically, etc., my bank account and physical health will flourish!

If I listen, my relationship with the Lord and others will flourish!

If I'm bold in sharing Jesus with others, the Kingdom will flourish!

If I persevere in all that I do, I'll flourish!

Flourish also means:

What an exciting year this is going to be! I can't wait to see all that the Lord has for each of us in 2017! 

If you'd like to read the word from Dr. Jerry Savelle that says, "2017: The faithful will flourish!" click here.

As a reminder, if you'd like your own One Word banner like mine above, email me at: lynparker8@gmail.com with your word and 2 color choices!

This is going to be a great year of FLOURISHING for us all!!

Blessings!

Lyn~