Sparkling Attitude

I was sitting here going through an old devo notebook from 2009 and found something I thought was worth sharing. I had totally forgotten about it, which is why I always sit with a notebook during devo time so that I can be reminded some day. And considering my stinking attitude the other day I thought this was pretty fitting. 

I was reading "Women of the Bible" at the time and here is the page:

Now my head is spinning with ideas on how to put this reminder somewhere on my jewelry box so that I can be reminded daily, or at least on the days I leave the house and actually open up that box.

P-U Stinky!!!

What stinks? 

Could it be the fact that E woke up at 6 am!!! this morning and woke up H too? 

Could it be the urine that leaked through H's diaper, again? (Seriously, she leaks through every other night. She's wearing a night diaper and she has 8 lbs left before the next size.) 

Could it be the passion fruit juice left on the ottoman by my 4 year old for my 1 year old to reach, and spill all over the floor and the clothes I just put her in? 

Could it be the broken pieces of glass all over the sink (and some on the floor)? 

Could it be the attitude of my 4 year old demanding to always get what she wants? 

Could it be the results of H's reflux on the clothes I just changed her into? 

Could it be the fact that H fell asleep in the car on the way to the dr's office (which I knew she would since it was her nap time) and then after me being very careful not to wake her up to bring her inside, the receptionists were really loud and woke her up? 

Could it be the result of H's reflux that had landed on me and the fact that I just now, at the dr's office realized that I smelled of vomit? 

Could it be the nurse giving me the shots too far to the center of my arms leaving me with sore, bumpy arms?

Could it be the fact that I had to give E a time out at the dr's office since she broke the rules we had just discussed before entering the building? 

Could it be the lunch (tuna) smeared all over my 1 year old's face and hair? 

Could it be the fact that I had to give her a bath before nap time since I was not about to put tuna baby down on freshly cleaned sheets. 

Could it be the toy microphone echoing in E's hands during H's nap time?

Well, as you can tell I'm having "one of those days" today. And although all of the above things mentioned stinks, literally or figuratively speaking, the thing that stinks the most about today is my response to the day, my attitude. That broken glass I mentioned above was from me being mad at E for leaving yet another glass out for H to spill so I threw it in the sink. Yeah, it looked like crushed ice, that's how much it shattered. How can I expect my 4 year old to make good choices when mine are clearly bad? I just can't seem to shake this attitude today and with each added thing it's not getting any better. So I sat down for a quick minute to see if any blogs were updated. Because that's what you do when you're upset at everything, right? Well, of course the only thing updated I hadn't already read was from this Godly woman. Not what I felt like reading right then and there but I clicked on the link anyways and Oh. Did. I. Need. Her. Blogpost. Today!!! I think she wrote with me in mind. Well, since she has no idea who I am, that I even exist, or read her blog it was probably written through her, by God, with me (and others like me) in mind. Check it out to see what I mean...

Chowder - iPhone Meditaion

I never thought I needed an iPhone. And to be honest, I still don't think I need it, but oh, do I enjoy it. Like the time I had to wait in line at Walmart for almost an hour. To buy something for $8. And I know I could have walked out of there without my item, but I had been searching high and low for it so I didn't want to risk it being out of stock later on.

A while ago I discovered another perk. I recently started memorizing Bible verses in English. I figured after being here for 8+ years it's about time to switch to English, right? This is where the iPhone comes in handy with all its apps. I have a few different Bible apps, all free ones I think. But I mostly use this one:

What I really like about it is all the different versions available. So when I go to read a new verse I look it up in a bunch of different versions. Not to find the one that best tickles my ear, but to find the one that is easiest for me to understand. Being a foreigner and all that... Now I have been doing this for a few months and recently come to realize that this process actually makes me meditate on the verse for awhile. Reading it over and over again and kind of looking at it from different angels. I love it! So much that I just had to share it with y'all. It's like breathing in happy air. If that makes sense to anyone but myself I don't know. I might have just lost most of you right there so with all that said... yay for the iPhone, and more Yay!! for the Word of God!

Chowder - Fruit *freebie*

When it comes to disciplining my children - my 4 year old mostly since my 1 year old isn't as strong willed (yet) - I sometimes get frustrated and discipline from the works of the flesh. You know, bursting out in anger for example. I try though, to stay calm, but that's just it. I try. And then I fail every so often. Because I don't let the Holy Spirit work through me. So while sitting in my church chair this morning, listening to the preaching pastor, my mind started spinning. What can I do to remember the fruit of the Spirit and recognize the works of the flesh. I decided to make subway art cards to print out and post on my fridge. Just because I walk by it so many times during the day. (And maybe it will stop me from opening the door to the refrigerator a few times too.) 

I figured I might not be the only one who struggles with this and likes a visual reminder so here's a little freebee (or is it freebie?) for ya.

Just click HERE for an enlarged image of the fruit of the Spirit to print...

and HERE to enlarge the works of the flesh.

(btw, I chose to use the NLT version of the Bible for this since I understood every word but one (dissension) which hubby explained to me so know I know.)

And thanks for a great message pastor S!

Chowder - not just for kids

H is taking her second nap for the day and E just had book time (me reading to her) and now she rests in her room for a little bit. I was so inspired by what we were reading today. 

I ask her every day if she wants to pick a book or if she wants me to read from the Bible. 99% of the time she picks the Bible. Right now we're reading from the Jesus Storybook Bible and this is what I want to share with you today:

(pg 210)

 "Jesus left the desert and set about the Great Rescue. He was going to get God's people back.

 But first he needed to find some helpers and friends. He had a lot to do. He would need some people to help him.

 Who would make good helpers, do you think? Clever ones? Rich ones? Strong, important ones? Some people might think so, but I'm sure by now you don't need me to tell you they'd be wrong. Because the people God uses don't have to know a lot of things, or have a lot of things - they just have to need him a lot."

(emphasis mine)

Do we need Him a lot?

Chowder - Happy Thanksgiving!

I Thank Thee

O Thou whose bounty fills my cup,

With every blessing meet!

I give Thee thanks for every drop—

The bitter and the sweet.

I praise Thee for the desert road,

And for the riverside;

For all Thy goodness hath bestowed,

And all Thy grace denied.

I thank Thee for both smile and frown,

And for the gain and loss;

I praise Thee for the future crown

And for the present cross.

I thank Thee for both wings of love

Which stirred my worldly nest;

And for the stormy clouds which drove

Me, trembling, to Thy breast.

I bless Thee for the glad increase,

And for the waning joy;

And for this strange, this settled peace

Which nothing can destroy.

 ~ Jane Crewdson (1860)

Chowder - Big Words

A few weeks ago I could hear E playing in her room and she was using really big words like humility, "gemtelness" (gentleness), compassion etc. My first thought was "where did she get those words from?" and then I remembered. It's from the Bible verse she's learning at preschool. So since I've decided to work hard on memorizing more verses I figured I should learn the same one she's working on. So here it is...

It's truly something to meditate on and make part of your life!

Chowder - Mirror, mirror on the wall...

Words every girl should have on her mirror...

When my girls get older and want to check how they look in the morning this will be written on or framed next to their mirrors!

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

Psalm 139:14

Chowder - Faith Food

When I wake up in the morning I grab my iPhone, go to my bookmarks and click on Proverbs 31. I also try to get another quiet time in during the day, but sometimes that can be quite the challenge. So as I was reading these words this morning I felt convicted:

"I tried to feed my faith on a two minute devotional in the morning…"

 And I decided to take the author up on her challenge. I would hide His word in my heart, just as scripture tells me to. And the verse I decided to start with is the introduction verse of today's devo over at P31.

"Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ."

Romans 10:17 (NIV) 

"Alltså kommer tron av predikan, och predikan i kraft av Kristi ord."

Romarbrevet 10:17

Chowder - Good Night

"I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety."

Psalm 4:8

Chowder - Lot's wife

A while ago I was reading about Lot's wife. You know, the one that looked back and was turned into a pillar of salt. It said (in this book) that she "may have been more attached to the good life than was good for her". Isn't that so true about most of us today? Let's face it, if you are able to read this you're probably someone who lives quite a good life. I'm not accusing you of being too attached to it, but I know that personally I've given in to so many 'wants' that I often can't afford to help those who have nothing.
In that book it also said that "she had learned to tolerate" the sin. Haven't we too? Just look at the TV. (I know that it's a common example, but it does prove a point.) The shows get worse every year, and we don't really react. We just get used to it. And don't we all sit on the couch while watching some "innocent" chick flick hoping that the guy and the girl will hook up and get a little too romantic even though they are not married? I know, there's not much left to watch if we decided to "be careful little eye what you see".
It's scary to realize how much I have in common with Lot's wife and I'm ashamed of some of the choices I've made. But there is one thing that separates me from her. "She ultimately refused God's attempts to save her."

Chowder - encouraging blur

Sometimes we get discouraged by the things life throws at us. What better way to look than to the B.I.B.L.E.

I guess it was almost a year ago now that I noticed that my husband needed some encouragement. I took one of E's bath crayons and wrote him a little message on the tub wall so he would see it when he took his morning shower. I wrote it pretty big, but my husband normally wears contacts and all he saw when he got in the tub was this big, pink blur. He had to go get his glasses. Sorry honey!
If you're wondering about the pretty bad cover up job I did on outweighs I actually wrote "overweighs" on the wall. I blame it on my Swedish brain. =) It sounded good to me!

Chowder - the notebook

This must be one of my favorite verses in the Bible because every time I get a new note book for my quiet time I write it on the first page. And what can be more inspirational than a Bible verse telling you to be positive and thankful and keep chitchatting with our Lord all day long. Love it!


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