An Inspiring Message...

I copied and pasted the following from Melissa Taylor's blog "I Am Beautiful". It's the majority of her post from 7/31/08. It really lifted my spirits, and I know we ALL have those days when we're "TOO this or that" or "need to be MORE this and that". If this makes even one person feel better about themselves, then my job is done here. :) Also, I've added a really cool video (also stolen from Melissa!) at the bottom. But, I will warn you now, it may make you cry. But, in a good way, not a sad way!

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My Thoughts vs. God's Word

Hi! Welcome to the Encouragement for Today Daily Devotion Readers! If you have stopped by this blog after reading my devotion, http://proverbs31devotions.blogspot.com/2008/07/my-thoughts-vs-gods-word.html , I'm glad you're here.

This blog is called, "I Am Beautiful", but I can tell you that those words don't come out of my mouth easily. You see, I don't think I'm beautiful. I think I'm overweight, undisciplined, nervous, insecure, untalented, out of control, weak, unworthy, and ugly. But I know better. Those are my thoughts, not God's Word. God's Word tells a very different story. That's one of the reasons I created this blog. I struggle with negative thoughts about myself and I don't ever want to forget what God says about me. And indeed, I am Beautiful, and so are you. If I had it my way, every woman and girl in the world would view herself as God sees her, not as she sees herself or as others may tell her she is.

I'm not sure where your thoughts are today. And I don't know what or who helped to form the thoughts you have today. But I know the One Who made you. And I know that He knows best. And in order to begin transforming your thoughts to be in line with God's Word, you have to think like Him. That often takes training and being super intentional. It doesn't come natural to me, does it come natural to you? Only by filling my head with God's Word, do my thoughts begin to reflect His. So, I talk about His Word, I write about His Word, and I read His Word. I have to or I forget His Word!

I recently wrote an article on anxiety and depression for the November issue of the Proverbs 31 Woman Magazine. It was one of the hardest articles I've ever written. You see, I didn't want to admit that I was a Christian and struggled with negative thoughts. I didn't want to admit that I needed help. I tried so long to fix myself and I became exhausted to the point of practically breaking down. I don't hide those feelings anymore. And I don't try to fix myself anymore either. My life has turned around. Now when "My" thoughts enter my head, I check them as quick as I realize what I'm thinking. I say, "Now Melissa, is this what God says about you?" The answer is usually "No Way!"

I pray you have been encouraged today. Believe you are amazing and beautiful and forgiven and loved and gifted and worthy and wonderfully made, because your Creator does. And fix those thoughts on God's Word. You are so worth it!

Love and Blessings,


Melissa


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This video clip, to the tune of Total Eclipse of the Heart, shows that when our identity is in Christ and we give Him our burdens, labels, issues, etc, we are Free and Saved from this world. We may still live in this world, but we are New Creations.

My Kidney Stone

Okay, I'm sure this is probably TMI, but I'm posting a pic of my kidney stone that I passed lastnight. I found out a few weeks ago that I have 5 of them, so I've now decreased my amount of kidney stones by 20%. As soon as I found out what was causing my unusual pain, I started drinking my required 8 glasses a day, which is actually 64 ounces more water than I would normally drink. So, now I'm saving my rocky little friend to take to the urologist next week to be analyzed. I'm hoping that they'll tell me that the only way to prevent more of them is to increase my intake of frozen dairy products (preferably chocolate flavored). And one thing that totally amazed me about my stone is that when you look at it in the light, you can see little shimmery sparkles. I'm assuming they're some sort of mineral deposits like you sometimes see in rocks, but dadgummit, if all my poor eating and self-dehydration didn't create just the purtiest little stone! I'm wondering if I can't make some sort of bracelet after I pass the other 4, so that I have something to show for all my hard work!

My Bloggy Shout-Out!

As I was browsing through my favorite blogs, checking out some new ones, I noticed something that made my day! I know what you're thinking. "Alicia, your house is a mess, there's laundry and dishes to be done, not to mention the fact that you've got an accumulative total of 32 years of your children's memories to scrapbook, AND boxes that haven't even been un-packed from your move a year ago. Do you really think you have all the time in the world to be checking out MORE blogs???" Okay, well, no I don't. But, what I DO have is an unhealthy obsession with reading about other people's lives. I don't know if all you ladies know it or not, but y'all are pretty dang funny! See, now you have me off-topic and I'm rambling on like a crazy person, talking to people who aren't even speaking to me. OKAY, so what made my day, was that I was on This Crazy Thing Called Motherhood and Beth has me on her list of favorite blogs! I feel like I just won an Academy Award and received my little naked gold statue! Although, this does crank on some pressure to try to be witty and entertaining in all my blogs. Now, I have to keep up a certain standard of blogging for fear that I may be 86'ed from her list of favorites. This may set off a whole new set of issues...