Courageous 2nd Entry

A little about the movie 

Courageous is a film about God, family, marriage, career and leadership. It reveals a real life portrayal of the challenges that come with multiple responsibilities and wants in our modern day culture.

Courageous the movie is a powerful and entertaining take-action message that is full of quotes that apply to lives of men and women everywhere. The quotes can be used to stimulate meaningful conversations with friends and family, or from the pulpit to provoke life changing thoughts.

Setting the Standard for Fatherhood
Adam Mitchell: "I don't want to be a good enough father. We have a few short years to influence our kids. Whatever patterns we set for them in life will be used for their kids, and the generation after that. We have the responsibility to mold a life. And I don't think that should be done casually. Half the fathers in this country are already failing, and I don't want to be one of them. I'm talking about setting the standards that they need to aim for in life."

Consoling the Grieving
Pastor: "At a moment like this, silence seems to be the only emotion that fits. What can we, as mere men say to a grieving shattered heart? We speak today because we have a living hope. Death is no respecter of persons. Death is no respecter of youth. Death is a painful intruder and a pernicious reminder of our human condition. But I stand before you today to declare that we have a living hope and that causes us to rejoice greatly. If your hope today is found in the fact Jesus is no longer entombed... Because He lives, the grieving broken heart has hope, and reason to rejoice."

This week in our Sunday School Class .....

We learned about forgiveness. The question posed was. Do you need God in order to forgive?

The lesson went on to talk about the need to forgive and that forgiveness is not for the ones who have wronged us. It is for us. It is a command by God and we must do it for ourselves and for our relationship with the Lord. 

Matthew 18:21-35

Col.3:13

Romans 12:17-21

2 Corinthians 7:10

A little snip it out of the Bible Study Book this week.

"God calls each of us to lay down our pride,face our fears, and take responsibility for our past. We too have the Holy Spirit and other believers to support us in this courageous journey"

Forgiveness 

I think Forgiveness is one of the hardest things we have to do in life. We have to make a conscious choice to do it weather the person who has wronged us deserves it or not. Weather or not they ask is irrelevant.

We need to make sure that we are not just coping with past hurts but truly forgiving the people who have wronged us. The past will continue to haunt you and you bring it into every relationship you have. The emotional baggage that you bring with you everywhere would be so much light with forgiveness in your heart. 

All of this sounds great but IT'S NOT EASY! I have been hurt allot and I have tried to forgive only to have the same thing happen over and over and over again. How do you forgive then? How do you move past it ? These are questions I am still working on the answers too. I also got a dose of reality when it was explained that we don't deserve forgiveness from God it is a gift he has given to us and yet we continually hurt Him over and over again. So we do the very things that we say are nearly impossible to forgive to the Lord almost daily.

I have to work on my forgiveness for others and also going to people that I may have wronged and making things right. Going to ask someone for forgiveness is not an easy thing to do but if I can't do that then how will I teach my children how too? I will be really working on these things in the coming weeks. I know it will be hard. There are some major things in my life that require Gods intervention to fix them. 

The Resolution is the book I am reading to go along with the bible study and I admit I have not read it as much as I should I think because its all so overwhelming I mean the 1st two chapters seem to have so many things for me to work on so I am taking it slow to make sure I don't just read it for the sake of saying I did it. I want to soak it in and really change some things.

Update from the last post 

I have been really trying to enjoy every moment and drink in every day like the blessing that it is. It is very hard to break a habit like being numb to certain things. Feeling sometimes hurts. It requires more than just feeling the good. It requires fully experiencing Joy and Pain. It is a huge work in progress and I am sure that if I was graded I would be failing miserably but I am trying.

I hope that these posts are an encouragement to somebody out there that may have my same struggles. I will continue to stay in this study as ling as it take and I will update as to my progress again soon.

Thanks for reading and feel free to comment with anything you may want to share.

Start Something Worth Finishing

I have always struggled with starting things and not finishing them. I have the best of intentions but then something happens or I get discouraged and I don't follow through. Sometimes this is good and sometimes it's not. I have started several things as of late that I would like to finish.

One being the book that I told you about before. I am going to read the next part in it today. I will post about that later but right now I want to see how people stay motivated to do the not so easy stuff. I want /need to get into shape and I have struggled with working out for a while now. The last place we lived had a gym and I went almost everyday for a while then just quit. I wasn't losing weight fast enough it was boring there where to many people the list of excuses was a mile long. I just didn't stick with it. Well, yesterday I started a new thing I have always admired people who run. They go out rain or shine and pound the pavement and It just seems to be so free and a great way to get into shape. Well, I am not a runner and I quickly found that out yesterday. I was following an app on my phone called C25K (couch to 5K) It tells you how to build endurance up to become a runner. Well, I did it yesterday I did almost 2 miles. Today I was met with my enemy ....an excuse... I didn't let it win. It was pouring rain and windy today. I went out anyway and got in over 2 miles ! I am not a runner but I will become good at this to get into shape. I struggle like most women with body image. I see all these "perfect" women out there and I just want to look like them. Well, I have come to a realization... thats not going to happen. I can lose weight and get fit however I will never look like them because I am me. I need to be content in this as well. I need to take care of my body mind and spirit. I am going to strive to be a better me not look like someone else.

If you have any good advice on this please leave a comment below I could use some encouragement. Thanks for reading I will post more about the Courageous book later.      

Frank-Ein-Stein Spooktacular Gala

This is a Gala Event to support a local school that provides classes for Children with special needs. A cause that is very dear to my heart because a very sweet member of my family has Autism. He has found his place at this awesome school and it is a very worthy cause to support ! 

Frank-Ein-Stein ...A Spooktacular Gala, Golf & Spa Event benefitting Einstein Academy, a non-profit school serving grades 4-9 for students with Autism, ADHD and Learning Differences  —Friday— October 19, 2012 Gala: Poinsett Club 807 East Washington Street Greenville, SC 29601 Driving Directions  ____________ Golf: The Preserve at Verdae Golf Club650 Verdae Boulevard Greenville, SC 29607 Driving Directions    ____________ Spa: Greenville Technical College Cosmetology 620 South Pleasanturg Drive Building 106-C Greenville, SC 29607   Driving Directions  ____________ Our Generous Sponsors: Mr. and Mrs. James D. Bennett, Jr., Ameriprise Financial Mr. & Mrs. Jerry Saad, Saad and Manios, LLC Mr. & Mrs. Nick Jattuso Upstate Parent Magazine Mr. & Mrs. Kyle Pertuis, Mind Fit Coaching Mr. & Mrs. Steven Cox Mr. & Mrs. Dillen Hartley, Advanced Therapy Solutions Mr, & Mrs. Andrew Carter Greenville Technical College, Cosmetology Department Frank-Ein-Stein Dinner,  Dance & Gala at the Poinsett Club  Friday, October 19, 2012 at 6:30-11:00 PM Live Dance Band, Amazing Auction Items  Dinner: Chateaubriand, Pasta Station & lots more.  Costumes Encouraged but Optional $170 per couple, tables of 10 Gala tickets included in some Golf Packages  for more information, click the link below Einstein Gala Questions: Claire Carter claire.a.carter@gmail.com or 864-269-8999 __________________ Frank-Ein-Stein Golf Tournament at The Preserve at Verdae Golf Club Friday, Oct. 19, 2012 - 9:00 Am - Shot Gun Start Lunch Included: Served on the Course All Prizes Will be Awarded at the Gala Costumes Encouraged but Optional  __________________ Corporate Golf Package ($1,200) 1 Team, 4 layers ($600 value) 10 Gala Tickets ($850 value) 4 Spa or Style Packages ($120 value) Sponsorship Signage on Course ($150 value) Friends of Einstein Golf ($600) 1 Team, 4 Players ($600 Value) 2 Spa or Style Packages ($60) Sponsorship Signage on Course ($150)  for more information, click the link below Einstein Golf! Questions: Jim Bolt  jdbolt952@bellsouth.net or 864-915-1212  __________________ Frank-Ein-Stein Spa & Style Services at Greenville Technical College Cosmetology Friday, October 19, 2012 by appoinment 864-250-8940 Prepare for the evening event with relaxing services or a Spooktacluar look. Spa Package: Manicure, Pedicure and Facial $40 Style Package: Hairstyle and Makeup $25 100% of Proceeds go to Einstein Academy Spa & Style Services incl. in some golf packages.  for more information, click the link below Spa Event! Questions: Mary Rock mary.rock@gvtec.edu or 864-250-8940

Courageous ?? Resolution?? Yes Please!!

It's really hard sometimes to figure out what's really important in life we say that we want to do things a certain way or accomplish certain goals but we are not usually willing to put forth the effort to actually do this. What does it take for greatness? What does it take to succeed ? are we willing to make sacrifices to reach these goals? Or are we to afraid to fail? Are we enjoying every bit of our lives or we just going along waiting for the next big thing? In other words are we really living or are we just going about our everyday lives missing out on those things that are really important?

My husband and I are doing the courageous bible study based on the movie with our Sunday school class. We got the resolution books to go along with the book from Sunday school and have agreed to do them together.

I think I will post about this journey to keep myself accountable and maybe to help others that may be going through similar things in their lives.

I have been guilty of discontentment. I really thought I was doing a good job with not complaining. What I didn't realize is complaining is only one symptom of discontentment and just because you may not have all the symptoms of an illness does not mean you are well.

Not being really thankful is a symptom.

Not having joy is a symptom.

Fear is a symptom.

Worry and so on. Everyone deals with issues differently. If you truly take the time to ask yourself am I happy? What would your answer be? I know that circumstances prove difficult to see past. I was asked in the book this week to make a list of things I need in life. Not wants but needs. Then in another column make a list of Gods provisions and how he meets those needs. I made the list and it was sobering, every basic human need is met daily by his grace for me. I don't thank Him enough.

It's a tough pill to swallow when you think your doing well at something just to realize that your not.

I'm human just like the rest of you but I as a Christian should hold my accountability more serious. I should be a good example. 

I am sure there will be many hard lessons but I feel like change is good so here we go. Your welcome to take the journey with me.

I know some may say this is a business blog what in the world does this have to do with business. Well pretty much EVERYTHING !

I feel this will impact my life in a positive way at home in marriage as a mother and as a small business owner.

Psalms 31:24 be of good courage, and He will strengthen your heart,all you that hope in the Lord.

Photo Book

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Shutterfly baby photo books are the perfect way to preserve your baby's precious moments.

Weekend Office Project

I renovated and painted my new office space in my home and I wanted to share some before and after photos with you all :) Let me know what you think. 

Fun Photo's from my friend Amy's wedding dress adventures

We had an awesome time today at Davids Bridal being silly and enjoying ourselves here are some of the shots I got while she was trying on Wedding Dresses!