Carlson's Best Life: "What Did You Just Say?"

Monday, March 19, 2012

"What Did You Just Say?"

I had the privilege of teaching Children's Church yesterday. My husband and I typically tag-team to lighten the load. Plus, it gives us both a chance to get to know the kids a little better and Alana absolutely loves having her parents do children's church.

I shared an object lesson with the children that they not only enjoyed, but that I thought is a "life lesson" from which a person of any age can learn. This is how it went:

Take a tube of toothpaste and squeeze a large amount of toothpaste onto a plate. Then, try to put the toothpaste back into the tube. Can it be done? Once it's out of the tube, there's no putting it back in. Remind you of anything? Now, stick your tongue out. How powerful and strong does your tongue feel? Flex your arm muscles. Doesn't it seem like your arms muscles are much more powerful than your tongue? Ok, the truth is: Prover 18:21 Words kill, words give life; they're either poison or fruit - you choose. Now, do you see the power or strength in your tongue?

Once you say it, it's been said. You can't take those words back. I personally have wished that at times I could take my words back. But the truth is that this goes even deeper. Paraphrasing: From the heart, the mouth speaks. So this really goes beyond just trying to make kind words come out of your mouth. It really gets down and dirty. It's really about teaching and training your heart to have lovely words, thoughts and ideas within it. Another way of putting it: "What's deep in the well, comes up in the bucket."

My prayer for this week, is to not only become a stronger woman in speaking life, truth and encouragement. To rid my mouth of negative words. But to take it a step further. To rid my heart of any bitterness, malice, greed, negativity, ect. in order that what comes up in my bucket, is worth displaying. So that I can be a true light and vessel worth using.

I've often said, "If you're not helping, you're hurting." So, my words either help to build up and edify, or they do the exact opposite. So obviously, this children's church object lesson, was for more than just the children. It was to help THIS servant become a little more humble, open, and honest about what's deep in the well

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August in Review

August has been a very busy month and we are not quite done yet. Micah turned 5 months on August 16, and is doing so much: sitting on his own, playing every morning and afternoon in his activity saucer for 15 minutes at a time, pushing up on his forearms and getting on his knees when he is on his belly. He has also already cut his two front bottom teeth and appears to be working on cutting a top tooth. I'm thinking we are going to have a crawler very soon. He is growing so quickly and we are totally captivated by his every move.
Alana is getting ready to begin 2nd grade. I just can't believe that my child is going into 2nd grade. Where has all of the time gone? She is full of energy, love and zeal for life. Her typical days in the month of August have consisted of play dates, swimming, riding her bike, Bible School (she attended 5 this summer), traveling and hanging out with the family. I have promised her that we WILL go to the beach before summer ends, so I have two weeks left to make that promise come true.
Jim hashad a busy month so far and we are praising God for his new position/transfer closer to home. He will begin at his new location on the September 1, and we are so happy that he will be closer to home now. We are going to really enjoy meeting him for lunch and getting to kiss and hug him goodbye in the mornings now that he will not be leavign quite so early. God is AWESOME!!!! He always works things out for the good for those who love him (just a little paraphrasing..lol)
I have also had a busy month so far. One of the memorable things I've done this month besides playing the role of mom and giving vocal and piano lessons was being a part of the Royal Tea hosted by the 1st P.H. Church. It was a great experience and the guests speaker, Connie Hale, really spoke a message that penetrated deeply. Her word somewhat revived my heart and reminded me of the quality of life I have as a "Daughter of the King." I have willfully let go every unkind, critical and negative word ever spoken over me. I have determined that I WILL NOT listen to, entertain or accept any opinion of me given by others that is contrary to the words and thoughts of GOD. I am living a more productive and satisfying life because of it.
Below are a few pictures to document this month. I will obviously be adding more pics as the month comes to an end. In the future I will only update this section on a monthly basis.