Today, Everyday, and Always: January 2009

Friday, January 30, 2009

Weekly Memory Verse

Since my last week's memory verse was Mark 11:24; God has encouraged me to memorize the two previous verses 22 & 23 to make my mind and heart in tune with him so that he can grow my faith like he was teaching his disciples to do in this Scripture story.

I want faith that will move mountains! I need to focus on BELIEVING God and not doubting him. So, with that said, here's my Memory Verse for this week Jan 29- Feb 4:

"Have faith in God," Jesus answered.

"I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain,

'Go, throw yourself into the sea,'

and does not doubt in his heart

but believes that what he says will happen,

it will be done for him.

Mark 11:22-23 (NIV)

Therefore I tell you,
whatever you ask for in prayer,
believe that you have received it,
and it will be yours.

Mark 11:24 (NIV)

last week's verse

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

LAUNDRY~
It's Never Ending!

"Mom!" I hear my child's voice yell from across the house, "I'm out of socks."

I yell back, "No you're not, there's some in the laundry basket."

As my child digs through the laundry basket half full of nothing but socks (looking for a "match"), guilt sinks in and I think to myself, "why have I allowed this basket to sit for three days?"

I quickly answer my own question... "I despise folding clothes, specifically, matching socks. It's a never ending job! I know I am not the only person out there that feels this way!

I have no problem getting the clothes gathered and sorted, pre-treated where needed, getting them in the washer, and even following through with getting them dried and in the laundry basket; but for some reason, most times, the clothes get stuck at this stage, sitting in the basket for a day, or two, OR THREE. I end up feeling guilty that I finally fold them and put them away... UGH!

Maybe deep down, I wait, letting the baskets sit, in hopes somebody else with fold them and the clothes will miraculously get neatly put away where they belong. This does happen on rare occasion when my older children are really motivated to earn their allowance for the week.

The thing is, just as one basket of clothes gets folded and put away, there's always one or two others behind it. It's never ending! Can ya'all relate?

So, as I sit here typing this blog, the guilt is setting in once again... I should be folding the laundry baskets of clean clothes that are cluttering around my table needing my attention. UGH!

I realize I can never catch up on

the laundry situation...

unless, of course, my family moves to

a nudist colony.

NOT!

On the bright side... the spring and summer seasons will be here in a couple months and we'll be back in flip flops on our feet; the basket of unmatched socks will go away for a while. YEAH!!!!

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Weekly Memory Verse

One of my commitments for the year to "Invest in my... WALK WITH THE LORD" is to memorize a new Scripture verse each week. As I learn each verse in my mind, they will penetrate in my heart, and I will focus on "living" them in my actions and everyday life.

Thank you, Lord, for your Word, encouragement, and direction!

This is my third verse for the year... Jan.21-27, 2009

Mark 11:24 (NIV)

Therefore I tell you,

whatever you ask for in prayer,

believe that you have received it,

and it will be yours.

Thursday, January 15, 2009

For Today...

Outside my Window... Clear blue sky, mid 60's, GORGEOUS weather!

I am thinking... I really need to get off the computer, make my "to-do" list, and get some things done.

Personal growth I'm focusing on... Accountability, dreaming my dreams and staying encouraged, being content and thankful.

I am thankful for... Kirk is a great husband and I have 4 wonderful children. I love my entire family... I'm thankful for connecting with my past friends and meeting new sista galfriends in Corpus and on the internet.

From the kitchen... Dinner tonight~Sweat and Sour Beef (in the crock pot) on rice; pears, and french bread. Kids and I will probably make cookies, brownies, or cupcakes in the next couple days while they're off of school.

I am wearing... Green "Hood River" sweatshirt and Old Navy sweat pants

I am reading... The Bible, "Turn Your Dreams into Realities... " (Excellent Book!!!)

I am hoping... That the kids aren't too bored and keep themselves busy over the next couple days off of school and that I can get started on my "Chenille Jacket" project to give to my niece, Evyn.

I am hearing... Clifford the Big Red Dog (Kid's TV Program)

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week...
Same ole, same ole...
laundry, house work, de-cluttering, maybe a little yard work, reading, family movie night Fri or Sat PM, go to church... hopefully Kirk and I can go on a "date night" sometime this weekend, since we haven't gone on one in a while.

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

B-O-L-T

When I was a new believer in Christ, I was trying to understand what being a Christian was all about. I had accepted Christ as my Lord and Savior (and through faith by His grace I was saved - Ephesians 2:8); I could see and feel the changes God was doing in my heart (and my life), but was kind of confused as to what I to do now, going forward?

While I was having some prayer and quiet time with God one day, I asked Him "Now that I'm saved, what does it (Christianity) simply come down to... what do I do now?". I love how God answered me by giving this acronym to teach me how simple walking with Him as a Christ follower really is...

B... Believe (God) (Don't just Believe IN God, but BELIEVE GOD and all He says in Scripture- He's got lots of stuff to say!)

O... Obey (God) (Follow Christ's example of righteous living... Obedience is freedom and results in victory.)

L... Love (God & Others) (The Greatest Commandment! Deuteronomy 6:5; Matthew 22:37; Mark 12:30; Luke 10:27 )

T... Trust (God) (God is forever faithful and worthy of our whole hearted trust.)

In order to "B-O-L-T" God, I've learned I must be in his Word (Scripture) and seek Him daily. There are multiple Bible verses re-enforcing "B-O-L-T". I have been blessed beyond measure as I exercise these areas (B-O-L-T). Now and again when I start to get off track (from my Belief, Obedience, demonstrating Love, or Trusting), God reminds me to get back on track -through the visual of a bolt.

As a fun reminder, I have a loose bolt here and there in several drawers around the house and I've hung a bolt from a string on the rear view mirror of my car (since I seem to be in it so often).

Today I B-O-L-T... How about you?

Monday, January 12, 2009

Aspirations, Dreams,
and "To-Do" Lists

I have shared it before, and I'll share it again...
I'M A HUGE "LIST PERSON"!

I seem to stay on track with my goals when I write them down. I'm really a scatter brain with out my list and spiral notebooks have become a prized possession around my house! On any given day I have anywhere from 2-4 different lists going...

For example- today, I have my grocery list so I can do my shopping tomorrow; my daily "to do list" - so I remember what needs to be done "today"; I have my monthly calendar hanging on the wall, to I can see at a glance the list of activities penciled in for the whole family; I have my daily list of every food item I put in my mouth so I can journal my food intake and be sure not to go over 1600 calories for the day (need to lose the weight I gained from the holidays!); I have my "Bucket List"; and I have my newest list for 2009... of my yearly aspirations and dreams.

These lists may seem a bit obsessive compulsive, but without them I would live my life stagnant, not moving forward to the best of my ability, or worse, I'd end up going backwards... wasting my time away.

When I write down my needs, passions, dreams, and desires, several things happen for me:

first- with a list, my natural forgetfulness is spurred with a "reminder" of what I need to do or want to to. I'm able to reflect on my written goals and dreams visualizing what I need to do to accomplish them and visualizing the victory of success throughout the process up to the point of experiencing the actual victory of accomplishment.
second- my list helps me be accountable to myself and help others hold me accountable.

third- my list allows me to experience visual victory as I'm able to accomplish those things listed by marking them off, celebrating the accomplishment, and moving on.

As I mentioned, my newest list is my 2009 Aspirations and Dreams list! I'm very excited about this list focused around 20 items in 09 different categories regarding ways I plan to INVEST myself for the year. I am a "FAMILY INVESTOR" after all! My 2009 aspirations seems like a big list, but I am determined to stretch myself to make things happen this upcoming year!

I didn't write out my dreams and goals for the year in 2008. Instead, I just kept them in my head thinking about them now and again. As I now reflect back on the year I feel a bit disappointed in myself. Although I did feel some victory with some accomplishments, I know I didn't live to my potential for the year and I wasted a lot of time being distracted (because I didn't have a list to follow!). This year I do have a list- posted publicly-to help me stay "on track".

“Some people make things happen, some watch things happen, while others wonder what has happened”
(Gaelic Proverb...author unknown)

IN 2009, I don't want to "watch things happen", or "wonder what has happened"... I want to be the person that will "make things happen"!

Prayer: Lord I thank you that you have given me the gift of administration and that I can use it in simple ways for your glory in my everyday existence. Thank you that you are my biggest encourager and partner in all my endeavors (even as mundane as victory through my grocery list). I pray you help me experience complete freedom in following my lists and experience victory as items are accomplished on a daily basis, monthly basis, and for 2009. Thank you Lord that you plant passions in my soul, desires in my heart, and you direct my path. I will commit my plans to you that I may have success in all I do as I seek you each day! (Proverbs 16:3) Amen

Monday, January 5, 2009

Happy New Year!... (?)

O.K. I have to admit, this year hasn't started out quite like I'd hoped...

Let me back track a bit - My family and I spent the Christmas holidays in WA and OR states which was an awesome, fun time!!! We saw family we hadn't seen in years, we saw snow- LOTS OF SNOW!, and we were able to use our time in the Pacific Northwest to allow God to show us a few new things about ourselves as well as how we can better pray for our family members. We arrived back from our two week trip late night, Tuesday, December 30. We woke up December 31 in our own beds in the comfort of our own home to 80 degree weather. OH THAT WAS NICE! We all got up in the morning, said a family prayer and opened our Christmas gifts we had left behind under our undecorated Christmas tree (I was so busy prior to the trip, I never found the time to decorate it!). It was a good day, and great to be home! We brought in the New Year quietly, staying up just past midnight.

Our minds and hearts were set to begin 2009 full of energy and ambition. New Years Day started out with goals to unpack from our trip, take down Christmas decorations, and just enjoy being home. I worked on my *20*09* Blog and got it finished (to post later in the day on my "birthday time"). Our "Happy New Year" was starting out "happy".

Then it hit! ...head ache, body aches, sore joints in knees and ankles, a scratchy tickle in the throat, exhaustion... by the evening I was running a fever. By the next morning, 5 out of the 6 Wymore's were feeling like we couldn't move, body aches ALL OVER and every cough was like trying to cough up a lung. Kirk, Kelsie, Jessie, and Joe ALL also had "it". Andrew our 13 year old was the only one who wasn't sick. His mega doses of "AirBorne" paid off! Wished I had done that!

Here it is today, Monday, January 5, and we are all just now feeling better. Man, it sucks when a virus hits and knocks a person right off their feet for nearly a week! You might be wondering... does the Wymore family get flu shots? The answer is no, not all of us. Kirk is the only one of us that get a flu shot each year. The crazy thing is he's gotten the flu TWICE this year, and it's hit him worse than all of us both times... so much for a flu shot! Weird, huh?

OK now that I've vented about how sucky it is to start the New Year off sick, I'm going to Praise God for our answered prayers of restored health to us and for His faithfulness in restoring our energy and ambition! Today I have luggage to unpack, laundry to work on and Christmas decorations to begin taking down. Thank YOU Jesus, I can do ALL THINGS through You who gives me strength! and also help me know my limits not to over do it!

I WILL have a HAPPY NEW YEAR!