Look left, Look right..now Look to God!

I woke up this morning a little discouraged...I guess you can say not everything is going the way "I feel" it should be. However, I quickly was reminded that it is exactly the way God has planned it to be.

As I laid in bed wishing I could just throw the blankets over my head and stay there all day, I remembered a scripture in Deuteronomy 5:32-33 So be very careful to act exactly as God commands you. Don't veer off to the right or the left. Walk straight down the road God commands so that you'll have a good life and live a long time in the land that you're about to possess.

I laid there in a bed a little bit longer pondering on that scripture and then I thought about an article that I had recently read.

It was about young kids getting in accidents because they look to the left and to the right - and then dash straight into an oncoming car. The safety experts were saying they know something that parents and teachers don't. They said that the children depend on the magic of the words to protect them from danger, rather than their senses and common sense. If you don't know what I'm talking about watch the video below. (Don't worry nothing bad happens! its actually cute!)

The article said that the familiar "look left, look right, look left again before you cross the road" is just a charm to young kids, according to the experts. The experts said that adults should not rely on logical explanations to make a young child obey safety rules. Implying that a better tactic with toddlers is an absolute prohibition such as, "No. You may not do that." They said instead of allowing kindergarten children and first-graders to turn the "left, right, left" street-crossing rule into a rhythmic head-nodding exercise signifying nothing, have the child identify something up on the road to the left. That way they're not just nodding their heads in time to the required ritual. Instead they're focusing.

So why do I mention this article? To make you think a little...of course! Just like a child needs to focus on what they are doing so they don't get hurt... so do we...and in Deuteronomy 5:32-33 it says just that!

You and I both KNOW what is to the left and to the right of us in our current situations and the word of God says that we should stay focused on God so that we can possess all he has for us! I encourage you to continue to ask God to direct your paths because afterall he is our "safety expert".

Proverbs 4:25 Show me the right path, O LORD; point out the road for me to follow.

How to Manage Your Emotions

Today at the Life Builder Seminar I guess you can say there was a room full of emotions..over 100 women of all ages came out to build up themselves with other Women with Purpose and Dignity through God's Word and Principles.

Pastor Cathy Guerrero and Hope Olivas shared some moments in their own lives when they needed to learn to manage their emotions. They gave so many keys to managing our emotions but I just chose a few to share here on the blog, but I encourage you to make it to the next meeting! They are great!

Now I'm going to be honest with you, last month when Pastor Cathy announced the topic "Managing Your Emotions" I thought to myself "Oh great Lord! This is going to be a month full of emotions now!" and it WAS!

just a few emotions that I can recall:

my grandson had to undergo surgery....worried

my parents moved 2 hours away.....sad

I was at a bible study and a shooting happened right outside... scared!

our track of homes are being tested for soil contamination...uncertain

my daughter got a job...HAPPY!

Every day it happens, we experience emotions, we all do.

But the main thing is HOW DO YOU MANAGE THEM?

or do they manage you?

I like the way Hope referenced to a few cartoon characters that she recalls acting like when she allowed her emotions to control her. I'm sure we can all relate, I know I can!

Chicken Little: Always worried!

Eeyore: Depressed, Gloomy, Negative, Pessamistic

Cruella De Ville: Evil & Full of Anger

To manage means to handle, direct, govern or control in action or use.

So as we learn to manage our emotions, it will take PRACTICE!

P-Practice self awareness

R-Reach out to God

A- Activate positive self talk

C-Control the way you express yourself

T-Train your mind to think on things that are positive

I-Identify what triggers some of your emotions

C-Consisitency is important

E-Emotional Itelligence

I think one of the keys that helped me the most was Being aware (self awareness of where Iam at the moment) Sometimes we get so caught up in the situation we immediatly go back to the past and hash up more emotions. We need to Be present, keep it to Real time, what am I feeling at the present time.

Another good tip was, Take time to process and make correct choices. Negative emotions produce bad decisions. A good example of this is Cain in the Bible Genesis 4:1-8. he didn't make a very good choice, read it when you can!

Sometimes before I make a decision I have to do this myself, I just tell my family I'm going upstairs for a little bit. It gives me time to pray, to think, to listen before I react on a situation. I haven't always been like this, it has taken a lot of PRACTICE!

I agree with Pastor Cathy "emotions are not wrong, its all about how we preceive, define, handle and express them that will make the difference!"

I pray that you are blessed with some of the tips that stood out to me and

Remember, what people do to you and what has been done to you is not what determines the outcome of your life, but how you respond to it and the decision you make after it happens.

Proverbs 11:17 (MES)

When you're kind to others, you help yourself; when you're cruel to others your hurt yourself.

Proverbs 23:7

For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.

2 Corinthians 10:5 (NIV)

We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

ps..next month's topic is "Living with Balance" come join us!

Memorize Mondays

Last week's scripture I memorized was Galatians 6:9 where it talks about not becoming weary in well doing, for in due season we shall reap a harvest if we do not give up. I related it to working out, and how sometimes working out is painful, and it hurts! It's alot like our walk with God, sure sometimes its painful, but we have to continue to do good so that we can reap the harvest! Sometimes that means being nice to someone even though they don't deserve it, or it can be volunteering at your church or school..we just never know who will be affected by the good things we do, but we do know that you will be blessed in the long run for doing them! (right mouse click & "refresh" if you dont see the video below.)


Hope you join me again next week for another great verse..I plan on memorizing Philippians 2:14-15 (New King James Version)

Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world