Out Loud!!!

I was kind of having a serious lack of confidence moment yesterday. It was Alonzo's and my date night so we went to a restaurant and walked around the mall. A few of Alaiyah's close friends that she's grown up with started school this year as she would have if we weren't homeschooling. I've been having some issues with that. I struggle with feeling like Alaiyah is missing out. She loved school when she was in pre-school and she loves people, so I know she would have a great time. I struggle with feeling like she's bored here playing with her little brother most days.

I really needed to here the truth!! My husband rose to the challenge. This is what God has called our family to. Our children have plenty of great interaction with lots of great people and contrary to the lies in my head she is not here playing with her brother all day every day. We get out plenty!!! Even if we didn't, it is always better to be in the will..of..God. Alaiyah will always do better if I follow the leading of the Spirit than she would if I follow what I think will be better for her. Plus she loves it! I'm not sure why, but she tells everyone who asks that she's homeschooled! We've never had a real conversation with her about it. Anyhoo my point is, I knew this truth but I needed to hear it...out loud.

This week one of my friends from Tuskegee came over to hang out and we talked about the consistent struggle with thoughts. We talked about the importance of taking every thought captive and how to practically do this. We talked about the importance of being very intentional about replacing those thoughts with the truth. We talked of the practical application of speaking the truth not just in your head but out loud so that you can hear the truth that you know!!

Both of these situations make me think about the importance of hearing the truth! Most of us who have been Christians for awhile know all of the right answers and yet we struggle to apply those truths when put through the fire. Why is that? Of course I don't know!! LOL. But I believe that part of that is that we don't ruthlessly replace the lies that dominate our minds with the truth that we know that we know!!

Romans 10:17 Faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ

Let's speak the truth in our struggles...Out Loud!!!

Other verses that deal with speaking the truth:

Romans 10:9-10 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteiousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.

Proverbs 12:18 There is one who speaks rashly like the thrusts of a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

Hebrews 3:13 But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called "Today," so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.

Why is speaking the truth so powerful?

BECAUSE THE WORD OF GOD IS LIVING AND ACTIVE!!!!!!!!! Hebrews 4:12

Praise the Lord!!!!

A New Budget Watcher in the Making

Alaiyah and I were in the car today going to pick up Amorri and she said,

"Momma they have burritoes for free."

I said "really?"

she said, "Yeah and the graham crackers are free too...and their from PUBLIX!!!"

Then she moved on to the car magazine.

LOL.

It looks like I'll soon have my very own personal coupon searcher outer/clipper!! Praise the Lord!! I know that she noticed those because she hears me telling Alonzo about all of the great deals at Publix...and because she's such a great reader!!!!!

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We had our first family day trip to the YMCA today and it was wonderful. I always love it when Alonzo and I are able to go together. We don't generally workout together (he plays basketball and I get on my beloved Elliptical w/ my Ipod...Ahhh! such a wonderful time), but just knowing that my whole family is there makes it so much more fun for everyone! Here's to many more family Y trips!!!!

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Ok since clearly this is a very random post, I thought I'd include some random pics :) Ayden loves her big brother and wants to be just like her big sister. Alaiyah was painting her fingernails and Ayden climbed her little self in the chair and propped her foot on the table. Enough said!!!!