Pure

2nd Timothy 2:19-26
22Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
The key is the pure heart, isn't it? A pure heart can look different with each person who possesses it.
Some would think a meek person has a pure heart- but not always necessarily the truth- some are harboring the resentment inside.
I know when I think of someone with a pure heart a few faces go through my mind- all quiet, yet strong in their conviction. When I am around these people I feel instantly safe and secure.
My sister is a pure hearted person and as such she believes in the good of others. She is more trusting then most people today are. I know she wouldn't pick up a hitch hiker, or anything like that...but she sees those in need before most of us.
Hub on the other hand is a strong minded- yet pure hearted person too. He is not content to live in this world and meet only his and his families needs. He believes all of us need to be tapped into the community we live in and help with a willing heart.
Although my Hub is pure of heart he is not convinced that anyone else is...and he puts on this outer shell so that the rest of the world does not see his soft side.
My sis does not do that...she leaves herself open- purely.
I am so lucky to have these pure of heart people around me.
Taa taa for now
Kimmy.
Also: said goodbye to another pound this week....hope to have a few more join that one soon!

GREAT expectations

The title of my blog today would make a great pregnancy book title....but alas that is not what I am writing about today. Phewff.
The picture I have attached to this blog is a print that Hub gave me when our son was about 6 months old. We had some great expectations of that little boy, and for the most part he has met those expectations, but realistically there was no way anyone could meet all of our expectations. When we learned that he had a disease our expectations changed. It seemed for us that our expectations all came crashing down, so we adopted the philosophy of not expecting anything good to happen. I know that does not sound like a sound healthy belief...but I am sure many parents who have children with illness will describe this feeling. Once our son noticed our change in expectations he was pretty vocal about it. His words were pretty strong for such a young fellow, but he told us that if we were giving up on him then he was quitting too. This was not an option, obviously, so we all learned together that expectations change but they can remain great.
Last night we had our parent teacher interviews with him. Highschool teachers talk alot about expectations. Our son was not meeting alot of the expectations and Hub is quite frustrated about this. Although academically he is not achieving what his potential is, I was encouraged to learn that as a student he exceeded their expectations. He is polite, courteous, quiet and answers questions when needed.
He can do better- but he needs to expect this of himself...all I expected was achieved.
What does our Father expect from us? Set your own expectations high and you will succeed some of the time and you will fail other times. God does not want us to be afraid of failure...

Psalm 46
For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. According to Alamoth. A song. [a]
1 God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam
and the mountains quake with their surging.
Selah
4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy place where the Most High dwells.
5 God is within her, she will not fall;
God will help her at break of day.
6 Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;
he lifts his voice, the earth melts.
7 The LORD Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
Selah
8 Come and see the works of the LORD,
the desolations he has brought on the earth.
9 He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth;
he breaks the bow and shatters the spear,
he burns the shields [b] with fire.
10 "Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth."
11 The LORD Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
Selah

Taa Taa for now
Kimmy

Words of Bitterness

My daily morning exercise led me directly to this verse....hmm I guess I do not need to wonder what the Lord is asking me to discipline in my life. Read it for yourself:
Ephesians 4:25- 32 says:
25Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body. 26"In your anger do not sin"[a]: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27and do not give the devil a foothold. 28He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need.

29Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Fault is all around us. We really don't need to look very far to see it in ourselves or in others. Having said that....good things are there too. For lent I had to give up words of bitterness....and I really did struggle with this...as did my friend. We tended to have quiter walks- until we started using words of kindness and uplifting words of those that we spoke of. Praising others around you can be very rewarding and positive. Some of the most frustrating moments of having teenagers can really get a parent down...but when you are forced to see their positive qualities along with the negative everything can really be put into perspective.
When you choose to give up bitterness you will lose alot of the weight that goes with it. It is much easier to forget the wrong doings when you have not spoken or dwelled on them...instead you gave them over for positive thoughts and actions.
Take a breath and breath in the positive air around you...when frustration comes your way- don't react just smile. The first time it will be a fake smile...the second time it will be a forced smile and by the third time you won't even realize you are smiling!
Taa taa for now
Kimmy
On the other note...Wii Fit says I lost 3 lbs already!! woo hoo!!

My life with Lettuce

My D I E T begins today. Dont' worry this blog is not gonna turn into the Oprah diet turmoils blog...just part of my life that I would like to see more discipline in. Much like lent (which ended just in time for me to no longer have chips) I will be mentioning my progress to keep me accountable.
For a person who loves control I certainly do loose control around the buffet table. I need to excercise control in so many areas of my life and I am starting today. I want what everyone wants....a balanced life. The only problem is that no one told us how much work that would take!
I can become obsessive about things I want to control...so I have decided to take small measures of control and be patient with the results.
I am no different then the person who smokes a pack a day of cigarettes...making the decision to quit is always the first step...acceptance of that decision from yourself and others is the hardest step.
I have decided to eat like my body is a temple...eat when I am hungry and to excercise once a day.
I am on a spiritual diet too. Over the winter months the busy hectic schedules of the kiddos sports have kept us away for our house of worship...and I feel the burden of the extra pounds from that too. I am going to excercise my spritual life every morning with my coffee and my physical life every evening with my Hub and Kiddos.
Let's see a happier healthier me.
Taa taa for now!
Kimmy