Word of the Week - Encourage

And the word of the week is...

This weekend Tween Monkey played basketball, just like he does almost every Saturday this time of year.  And his team won by a really big margin (44-2).  But this post isn't about his team.  It's about the team they played.  I think this other team has won maybe one game all season. They are coached by a teenager - maybe college-aged.  You would think that these kids would be disgusted or disheartened by now, but they always come to play and always play their best.  And this weekend I figured out why.

I was asked to keep score, so I was down on the court with the coaches.  And I noticed something about this other coach.  He NEVER said anything negative.  I mean nothing,  Not even things that sound like compliments, but are really not like, "Nice block, but you should have..."  Everything he said was an encouragement to his team, even when they were down by 40 with no time left - he was still encouraging them.  I truly believe this is the key to his team's attitude week in and week out.  And that got me thinking...

What about my words???  Do they build up or tear down???

When I speak to my kids, am I letting them know how much I love them or am I telling them I think they are idiots?  Now, let's be clear...I would never call my kids idiots, but sometimes my tone says it loud and clear. Do I treat them with respect?  Do I encourage them in their dreams?  I would like to say that I do, but I know that sometimes, my words tear down instead of build up.  I'm going to work on that this week...will you join me in thinking before you speak?  Let's all be a little more encouraging today.

Love you all,

Rulissa

Word of the Week - Love

And the word of the week is...

No surprise there, right?  I mean, this is the week of Valentine's and heart shaped everything!  But what does love really mean to you?

There's a pretty popular book that discusses the different ways people give and receive love.  It's quite interesting and I've learned some things about myself and those around me.  I've learned that Words are the way I give love.  I enjoy sitting and talking - sometimes about nothing, with those I love.  I super enjoy it when they talk to me.  And send me a card - I'll probably keep it for a long time.  But my hubby - he's not that talkative sometimes and buying cards are really not his thing (although he has gotten really good at it - you should read the card I got today!).  He's an Actions kind of guy.  I've learned that when he takes my car to the store and comes back with it sparkly clean, he is really telling me "I love you" and when he does laundry, he's really saying "You are special."  But it was something I had to learn.

How do you show love?  If you receive love in a different way than you show it, do you recognize it for what it is or do you wish it was something different?

God loves all of us and He made us all different.  That is one thing that i find so amazing about our Creator.  He KNOWS I need the words, so He gave me the greatest love letter ever written, the Bible.  He KNOWS the hubby is an actions guy, so he told him how to spread His love by caring for those in need.  Little, behind the scenes things that rarely get noticed - those are the things my hubby does to show he cares for those around him.

Do you need quality time?  God is waiting to spend it with you.  Do you rejoice in receiving gifts?  Look around you  - God has left you presents everywhere you turn... the beautiful butterflies, the gorgeous rainbows, even the sparkling, snow covered pastures...they are a gift, from Him to you!

Mark 12:30-31 ~ "And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength; this is the first commandment.  And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.  There is none other commandment greater than these."


Happy Valentine's Day - Love you all!!!

Rulissa

Word of the Week - Hope

And the word of the week is...

Psalm 71:5 ~ "For thou art my hope, O Lord GOD: thou are my trust from my youth."

Hebrews 11:1 ~ "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."

Jeremiah 29:11 ~ "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end."

Hope is a very important thing to have.  Have you ever been around someone who doesn't have any hope?  They are hope-less?  It can really drag down your spirit.  

I feel like the last 6 months have really done a number on my hope.  (Still trying to sell the house, remember?)  I tell myself to have faith and then something comes along to knock it down.  Someone calls to find out when they can see the house, then never makes an appointment to see it.  Hopes get up, then dashed to the ground again.

I KNOW God has a plan, a great plan for our family. I just have to have hope.  That's when I turn to His word.  It gives me the hope that no one else can give.  Not my husband, not our new Realtor, only Him.  Because I know the Bible to be true, I can put my hope in what it says and in Him.

Romans 15:4 ~ "For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope."

Isaiah 40:31 ~ "But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint."

Romans 5:3-5 ~ "And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hears by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us."

If you are feeling hope-less, let me encourage you to turn to God.  He will give you the hope you desire.

Love you all,

Rulissa

Word of the Week - Grace

And the word of the week is...

Grace is a disposition of kindness and compassion.  It is the free and unmerited favor of another.  Unmerited...  That means you can't earn it.  It is a gift.

I watched the movie "The Grace Card" this week.  I cried.  People do such horrible things to one another.  And we have a choice.  We can let it eat at us and become bitter or we can forgive...

"I promise to pray for you everyday, ask your forgiveness, grant you the same, 

and be your friend always."             

  ~The Grace Card

James 4:6 ~ "...God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble."

Ephesians 4:7 ~ "But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ."

Is there someone in your life that needs grace?  Is it you?

Love you all,

Rulissa

Word of the Week - Teach

And the Word of the Week is...

Titus 2:3-4 ~ "The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,"

I have come to realize that we are always teaching...

• We are teaching our children how to handle frustration when we gripe about the "Sunday driver" in our way.  
• We are teaching our spouses about priorities when we pay more attention to the TV instead of what they are saying.  
• But when we take a meal to a sick friend, we are teaching them about love.  
• When we pray as a family, we are teaching them about faith. 

We are teaching the world about Christians every time we walk out the door - the question is...What are we teaching them?

We teach by example, whether we want to or not.  So be careful what you are teaching those around you.

John 13:15 ~ "For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you."

1 Timothy 4:12 ~ "Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity."

1 Peter 2:21 ~ "For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps;"

Happy teaching!  Love you all,

Rulissa

Word of the Week - Joy

And the Word of the Week is...

"Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance."          ~Acts 2:28

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith."                  ~Galatians 5:22

"My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience."          ~James 1:2-3

I pray that JOY finds you this week!

Love you all,

Rulissa