Inspiration for Today

Yesterday ashes, tomorrow is wood; only today does the fire burn brightly.

an Eskimo proverb

But I heard it at church, shared by Grace.

Just Do It!

I have not been making the best use of my time, though I do accomplish a lot. But I am realizing I need to come back to this page to keep the big picture in mind. Kind of a “can’t see the forest for the trees” problem. I was keeping my daily checklists on this page—the trees—but losing sight of the bigger picture of what I am trying to accomplish—the forest. It feels like it might take a little effort to get back on task. But I surely must back off and look at things from a broader viewpoint. I have also discovered that I’ve felt so “accomplished” at what I get done with my Weekly Planner, that I have not even been taking time to consider what other tasks need to be moved higher on the list.

I have fallen a bit behind on bookkeeping, which entails business expense, business mileage, medical expense, and monthly expense. I have been much occupied all summer with taking care of Medicare and supplemental insurance, insurance for J and A, issues with my job (which have now been resolved), and trying to keep the house presentable for the short-but-more-frequent visits from A’s lady and a visit from my sister and brother-in-law.

Despite all the things I do getting done, it is when I cannot keep up with paperwork that I feel most like I am not accomplishing what really should be done. Too many weekends have passed with my attitude of  “This week I really must catch up!” or “Next weekend will finally be the weekend I can caught some paperwork done!” And the weekends just keep slipping by. Today I was tempted to take a nap, which is not a bad thing necessarily. I also wanted to watch one of the movies recorded from television for some day. But instead, I have been doing bookkeeping.

I also created another blog page, for the Weekly Planner, and get back to writing on this blog page.

’Tis good!

Separating To Do Lists from Inspiration

Today I started another page that allows me to keep the planners all in one place. For those who wish to see how that works, you can click on the link above, “Her Weekly Planner.”

I had somewhat lost my way on this blog, with the checklists here. I want to renew my purpose on this page by writing on topics to inspire and motivate. I plan to get back to setting goals for taking in the information that motivates and inspires me and then writing about it here.

Back to the purpose for which I started this blog!

Renewing My Motivation

I am noticing that my motivation is on the increase!

I look back at an astonishing amount time wasted over the past several months. My checklists show accomplishment each day, but I need to work on items that actually make forward progress, not just maintain. Television is what I gave too much time to, and I typically watch TV only when I can double-task, with an occasional plan to watch something with my husband, such as a movie or a program he has recorded. It is not easy for me to just watch a program, but if I do not make that decision on a regular basis to watch something with him, then I end up working in our home office every evening and much of the weekend, while he watches TV in the family room. I need to become more creative on tasks I can do while being in the family room, watching something with him. And this is not every night, just sometimes.

Too much clutter has built up. It gets tucked away and then later it is pulled out to work on. Then, when it’s not completed, it gets tucked away again. I feel like I have actually lost may way in all of this! I think I have attempted to be too accommodating to my adult children.

Also, I had a job change last August that brought a lot of stress. Since last August I have had only one day off, to use up my personal day. Recently the administration made a change that moved my former boss into a new area and gave me a new boss. Along with the change, I am finally getting a promotion, which is viewed as a Phase I change. I think I am beginning to have hope that the office will change enough to allow me to plan for time off. I have not enjoyed that I have not been able to control my work and plan my days. It has not been easy. I now have almost 1900 e-mails in the Inbox and another 900 in my Sent mail, all of which need a quick review at the least. Others need careful attention.

I had put in a work order for rearranging my space, and that’s happening tomorrow. I hope that goes smoothly and quickly so that I can also accomplish real work.

Now to fold/hang the laundry and write on my white board for Monday’s plans.

Then to bed!

Projects #1 and #4

Last fall I was attempting to get well organized with goals for 2013. Then my job took on some frustrations, and I got off track on many things. So this month I am trying to get back in gear.

I had some projects to take care of, and I assigned the light table to be #1, on January 2, 2013:

So I began to sort and organize.

And here’s the end result, at that time, January 3, 2013:

Recently it got loaded up again, so I have cleared it once again, but things are now all over another table, waiting to be sorted and put away.

Project #2 was my desk. Project #3 is the metal cupboard. But as I cleared the table I needed to take care of clearing space in the file cabinet, thus establishing Project #4, the File Cabinet. I emptied this many files:

 

I created this much space:

But I haven’t put things in the drawers yet. I have kept them out, I think, to sort before I put stuff in drawers again. But that hasn’t worked. Piles around to sort! That’s no fun!

Clearing Up Clutter

I had made great strides on projects earlier this year. I had written lengthy posts about them, too. But when I became frustrated at some point, I went back and deleted them. I just double-checked the definitions of obsessive, compulsive, and obesessive-compulsive. Yeah, there’s some of that. Because I had determined that blogging was what was causing me to accomplish less, I “had” to back and clean up the blog. For the umpteenth time, I am trying to see that I do better when posting, and I think it is because I have to be more diligent with all my tasks when I am taking time to post. I can certainly say:

I have accomplished no more by blogging less.

Today, I want to make progress in the office, where most of the clutter accumulates.
If it needs to be sorted, it goes to the office.
If someone wants to clear a space, the stuff goes to the office.
If they don’t know where to put it or don’t have room in their own space, it sits in the office.
If we have too many scrap signs, they are in the office.
If the papers are yet to filed, they are lying about the office.

I can reduce the clutter. 

I can get the projects going!

After all, this blog is about    Life . . .   and      Growth.

Monthly Bills Due Dates

Tithe, of course
  3  P insurance B & J
  8  B Earthlink
10  P insurance J
10  P insurance A
15  P utilities
24  P Verizon/FIOS
28  P mortgage
29  B Grasshopper

FDOR July 15 & December 15
cars (March 25 & September 25)
house (May)

Although we always paid off our full balance each month on credit cards, we go rid of those a couple years ago.

These are the regular bills. Of course, we have other business expenses with our home business, which we have operated since January 1989.

Making a Useful Checklist

Dan Miller (of 48 Days) reminds listeners, in almost every podcast, about realizing that choices are not just either/or.

I have discovered that my battle about a blog checklist is between not doing a checklist at all OR doing one that has nearly every task I complete each evening—obsessively so!

Today it occurred to me that I could be losing track of To Dos with checking in here each day. So I shall start again, with the plan to use the list for things I want to remember to do. I know that it may or may note include routine tasks, but I shall try not to obsess about it.

Well . . . this isn't working at the moment.

I try, then stop, then try again on the checklists.

Right now it is not working for me.

Coming Up
offertory on June 30
locate yellow sheet magnet
card #3 for Joe
mower on Craigslist
voice mail message(s)
donate plasma
dental work
update login/password list
update phone contacts
2009 pennies
Project #2 desk and papers
Project #3 cupboard
Project # 6 garage sale
Project #5 floor storage
finish Rise Above
read As a Man Thinketh
increase prices, new ad and order form
Bible study
character cassettes
write of light v dark
write of word for the year
freedom in Christ and the grace to say yes or grace to say

Dave Ramsey’s “In-law Boys”

I have listened to the Dave Ramsey Show podcasts for several years. Even when I think about stopping it in favor of other things to listen to, I just enjoy it so much and I am motivated by it that I continue listening. On his 5-9-13 podcast, Dave was talking to a caller about having another child, using a costly fertility plan. The conversation led him to comment on his on children : “I’ve got three wonderful kids. Actually . . . two have even married a couple wonderful more! So now I’ve got five, counting the in-law boys. (Chuckle, chuckle.) What do you call ’em? Oh yeah, son-in-laws. Haw, haw, haw.”

March 10, about master's

Then there is the matter of the master’s. I am greatly torn. I believe it could be helpful to me, but I cannot imagine adding that to my current load of responsibilities. The process of catching up has gone slowly enough, and with the loss of the files the time I intended to give to catching up will now be given to redoing bookkeeping, mileage, medical, etc. And that doesn’t include the business things that must be done: price increases and updating of the ad and order form, setting up for taking credit cards, moving the toll-free number so I can drop Verizon and AT&T, which will also save us hundreds of dollars. The record of car measurements for the signs for our business needs hours and hours of attention, and I know that won’t be done if I enroll for classes. Even fitness becomes more difficult when I am taking classes, because those hard deadlines do not allow a break. I’m moving in the direction of putting it off. I still need to talk to some folks. For now, though, I know that when I head in that direction, I immediately question it. Maybe it is a matter of waiting. And, perhaps, if I had a clear purpose for working on a master’s it would make better sense.

Calendar Gift—December

Images from winter and Christmas are some of my favorites.

So many memories are conjured up from these images.

This was our own tree that Jo photographed, the final image for the

calendar gift she gave me for Christmas 2010.

To enjoy all the images, search for “Calendar Gift” on this blog.

Books to Read, Updated As I Read and Think of More to Be Added

As a Man Thinketh, James Allen
48 Days to the Work You Love, Dan Miller
Quitter, Jon Acuff
EntreLeadership, Dave Ramsey
The Happiness Project, Gretchen Rubin
The 24-Hour Turnaround, Jim Haratness & Neil Eskelin
Change Your Life!, Allen Klein
In Search of Excellence, Thomas  J. Peters & Robert H. Waterman, Jr.
QBQ: The Question Behind the Question, John G. Miller
No More Dreaded Mondays, Dan Miller
Becoming a Person of Influence, John Maxwell & Jim Dornan
Boundaries, Dr. Henry Cloud & Dr. John Townsend
Good to Great, Jim Collins
It Takes So Little to Be Above Average Florence Littauer
Personality Plus, Florence Littauer
Crazy Love, Frances Chan
Not a Fan, Kyle Idleman
The Blessed Life, Robert Morris
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Stephen R. Covey
Rich Dad, Poor Dad, Robert T. Kiyosaki & Sharon L. Lechter
The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, John C. Maxwell
 How to Win Friends and Influence People, Dale Carnegie
The Art of Thinking, Ernest Dimnet
How to Say No to a Stubborn Habit, Erwin W. Lutzer
The Winning Attitude, John C. Maxwell

To be incorporated into the list:

The Brothers Karamazov

The Hidden Garden
Great People of the Bible, Swindoll
Basic  Christianity, Stott
Heaven, Alcorn
Walden
90 Minutes in Heaven, Piper
Good to Great, by Jim Collins, (Del)

From Mike: I just finished On the Road, To Kill a Mocking bird, and The Catcher in the Rye. Simply magnificent. Each in its own way. I finally read War and Peace. Les Miserables. Then, my Charles Dickens Week: Oliver Twist. Great Expectations. David Copperfield. Followed by John Steinbeck’s East of Eden, Grapes of Wrath and The Pearl and everything written by Pat Conroy.

 

2013 Planning Tool, Specific Tasks to Be Done

Business
check out Carbonite
3 x 5 cards for customer information
record the printing process
2012 bookkeeping
2013 bookkeeping
set up for credit cards (PayPal, Square Up, or Sam’s)
car measures
accounts receivable/collections
increase business income
improve our business Web site
increase our prices
send out convention samples
send ads to trainers
revise ad for magazine ASAP
revise order form
red magnetic sheeting?
black magnetic sheeting?
yellow magnetic sheeting

Online Selling
school books on half.com or VegSource
list things on eBay
list things on Craigslist

Retirement Stuff
insurance beneficiaries
FM money transfer
Bill’s SSN draw date
transfer ownership?

Career
look for another job
work on new online career
use inspiration/motivation

Social
time for friend(s)
Debbie, especially
Tricia

Family
time with Bill
time with Jo
time with Drew
connect with family
communicate on Yahoo group

Health and Fitness
exercise
see doctor by June (with improved labs)
lose weight

Outfitting Me
hem gray pencil skirt
rust sweater
cream/white blouse
green skirt
black flats
black pumps
navy pumps
nude pumps
champagne/blush blouse
blue jeans
hem dress
pretty watch

Spiritual
have a regular quiet time or Bible study
pray with focused attention regularly
Bob Taylor cassettes on bible characters


Personal Development
read for self-improvement
continue blogging
read blogs
inspire myself
read a book a month, or more
use diary

Homemaking
find recipes online (print and organize)
cook meat on Saturday
cook meat on Tuesday
clean garage
hang roots picture
organize digital photos
organize print photos
check out YooOffer.com
look for tent assembly piece in garage
post videos for sale on VegSource
clean china cupboard drawers
consign clothing
post on Outfitting You


Home Improvement
new vertical blind
new patio door
new back screen door
√ new roof
√ new gutters
LaZBoy repair

Thirty Traits for Which to Pray—The Reprise

This series began here, on January 1, 2013.

Here all thirty traits for which you can pray—for your children, for yourself, for your family, for your church, for your coworkers. Did I say, for yourself?

Plug it in!

1  Salvation—Isaiah 45:8, 2 Timothy 2:10

2  Growth in Grace—2 Peter 3:18

3  Love—Ephesians 5:2, Galatians 5:22–23

4  Honesty and Integrity—Psalm 25:21

5  Self-control—1 Thessalonians 5:6

6  A Love for God’s Word—Psalm 19:10

7  Justice—Psalm 11:7, Micah 6:8

8  Mercy—Luke 6:36

9  Respect (for Self, Others, Authority)—1 Peter 2:17

10  Strong, Biblical Self-Esteem—Ephesians 2:10

11  Faithfulness—Proverbs 3:3

12  A Passion for God—Psalm 63:8

13  Responsibility—Galatians 6:5

14  Kindness—1 Thessalonians 5:15

15  Generosity—1 Timothy 6:18–19

16  Peace, Peaceability—Romans 14:19

17  Hope—Romans 15:13

18  Perseverance—Hebrews 12:1

19  Humility—Titus 3:2

20  Compassion—Colossians 3:12

21  Prayerfulness—Ephesians 6:18

22  Contentment—Philippians 4:12–13

23  Faith—Luke 17:5–6, Hebrews 11:1–40

24  A Servant Heart—Ephesians 6:7

25  Purity—Psalm 51:10

26  A Willingness and Ability to Work Hard—Colossians 3:23

27  Self-Discipline—Proverbs 1:3

28  A Heart for Missions—Psalm 96:3

29  Joy—1 Thessalonians 1:6

30  Courage—Deuteronomy 31:6

Thirty Traits for Which to Pray #30, Courage

This series began here, on January 1, 2013.

#30 Courage

May my children always “be strong and courageous”

in their character and in their actions.

“Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the LORD your God

is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you.”

Deuteronomy 31:6 (NASB)

Accounts Receivables/Collections and Parables

In our little business, one of the great difficulties is that overdue accounts receivables slip through our my fingers. I know that the procedure must include follow-up calls if the balance isn’t paid within 30 days, but once they pass into 180 days or more, it becomes very difficult to make the call. Bill and I have talked about these overdue balances, and I have struggled with it for twenty+ years, because other responsibilities seem to override the need to send out reminders or make calls. Now that long distance is not an extra charge, I have no reason not to call. It will now be an easy task!

After voicing this concern to my senior-in-college son, I have concluded that I can let go of those old accounts, just as I had to another time in the past. I will review the accounts and see if there are other calls to be made for 2012 balances, but I may choose not to go back any further. I will get rid of my pathetic notes that explain that we count on the cooperation of our customers and are not staffed with a collections person. I will toss my balance-due notices, and bounced-check notices. It won’t be because I am not following up but because, in fact, I intend to make calls every week.
 
Below are some scriptures that have principles I have known for very many years, but I will add the Luke passage to my cards of verses to memorize. From Matthew, I will

Luke 16:10–12 (NIV) talks about the Unjust Steward:
10 “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.
11 So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?
12 And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own?


Matthew 25:14–29 (NASB) records the Parable of the Talents:

14 “For it is just like a man about to go on a journey, who called his own slaves and entrusted his possessions to them.
15 To one he gave five talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and he went on his journey.
16 Immediately the one who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and gained five more talents.
17 In the same manner the one who had received the two talents gained two more.
18 But he who received the one talent went away, and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.
19 “Now after a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them.
20 The one who had received the five talents came up and brought five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you entrusted five talents to me. See, I have gained five more talents.’
21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’
22 “Also the one who had received the two talents came up and said, ‘Master, you entrusted two talents to me. See, I have gained two more talents.’
23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’
24 “And the one also who had received the one talent came up and said, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you scattered no seed.
25 And I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.’
26 “But his master answered and said to him, ‘You wicked, lazy slave, you knew that I reap where I did not sow and gather where I scattered no seed.
27 Then you ought to have put my money in the bank, and on my arrival I would have received my money back with interest.
28 Therefore take away the talent from him, and give it to the one who has the ten talents.’
29 “For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away.
30 Throw out the worthless slave into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Actions
I will add a project to my list to be worked whilst I am working on Project #2. It will be a burden greatly lifted because of a solution found and a plan in place.

I will continue to pay attention to these verses, instead of letting them slip away. I recognize that what God wants to do in my life is His to decide, but I will no longer be a person who is not managing with great purpose and focus the things I have been given. I will be a good steward.

I am not even choosing to try to explain or justify past behavior beyond the point that this is where God has directed me for this time in my life. I cannot change the past. I will not regret things I did not know forty years ago.

I will keep hope in sight. I will keep working on my goals with my weekly planner. I will stay strong and focused on taking good care of everything that God has called me to.

How exciting is that!

Thirty Traits for Which to Pray #29, Joy

This series began here, on January 1, 2013.

#29 Joy

May my children be filled “with the joy given by the Holy Spirit.”

“You became imitators of us and of the Lord; in spite of severe suffering,
you welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit.”

1 Thessalonians 1:6 (NIV)

Thirty Traits for Which to Pray #28, A Heart for Missions

This series began here, on January 1, 2013.

#28 A Heart for Missions

Lord, please help my children to develop a heart for missions,

a desire to see your glory declared among the nations,

your marvelous deeds among all peoples.

“Declare his glory among the nations,

 his marvelous deeds among all peoples.

Psalm 96:3 (NIV)

Thirty Traits for Which to Pray #27, Self-Discipline

This series began here, on January 1, 2013.

#27 Self-Discipline

Father, I pray that my children may develop self-discipline, that they may acquire
“a disciplined and prudent life, doing what is right and just and fair.”

“For acquiring a disciplined and prudent life,
  doing what is right and just and fair.”

Proverbs 1:3 (NIV)

Thirty Traits for Which to Pray #26, A Willingness and Ability to Work Hard

This series began here, on January 1, 2013.

#26 A Willingness and Ability to Work Hard

Teach my children, Lord, to value work and to work hard
at everything they do, “as working for the Lord, not for men.”

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart,
as working for the Lord, not for men.”

Colossians 3:23 (NIV)

Thirty Traits for Which to Pray #25, Purity

This series began here, on January 1, 2013.

#25 Purity

Create in [them] a pure heart, and

let their purity of heart be show in their actions.

“Create in me a pure heart, O God,

 and renew a steadfast spirit within me..”

Psalm 51:10 (NIV)

Thirty Traits for Which to Pray #24, A Servant Heart

This series began here, on January 1, 2013.

#24 A Servant Heart

Lord, please help my children develop servant hearts, that they may serve wholeheartedly
“as if [they] were serving the Lord, not men.”

“With good will render service, as to the Lord, and not to men.”

Ephesians 6:7 (NASB)

Thirty Traits for Which to Pray #23, Faith

This series began here, on January 1, 2013.

#23 Faith

I pray that faith will find root and grow in my children’s hearts,

that by faith they may gain what has been promised to them.

“The apostles said to the Lord, ‘Increase our faith!’ And the Lord said,

“If you had faith like a mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree,

‘Be uprooted and be planted in the sea’; and it would obey you.”

Luke 17:5-6 (NASB)

Also Hebrews 11:1–40, where triumphs of faith are reported.

Thirty Traits for Which to Pray #22, Contentment

This series began here, on January 1, 2013.

#22 Contentment

Father, teach my children “the secret of being content

in every situation . . . through him who gives [them] strength.

“I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty.
I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation,
whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.
I can do everything through him who gives me strength.”

Philippians 4:12–13 (NIV)

Thirty Traits for Which to Pray #21, Prayerfulness

This series began here, on January 1, 2013.

#21 Prayerfulness

Grant, Lord, that my children’s lives may be marked by prayerfulness,

that they may learn to pray “always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit”

on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.

“Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit,
and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.”

Ephesians 6:18 (KJV)

Thirty Traits for Which to Pray #20, Compassion

This series began here, on January 1, 2013.

#20 Compassion

Lord, please clothe my children with the virtue of compassion.”

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved,
clothe yourselves with compassion,
kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”

Colossians 3:12 (NIV)

Thirty Traits for Which to Pray #19, Humility

This series began here, on January 1, 2013.

#19 Humility

Lord, please cultivate in my children the ability to “show true humility toward all.”

“To slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate,
and to show true humility toward all men.”

Titus 3:2 (NIV)

Thirty Traits for Which to Pray #18, Perseverance

This series began here, on January 1, 2012.

#18 Perseverance

Lord, teach my children perseverance in all they do, and help them especially to
“run with perseverance the race marked out for [them].”

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses,
let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles.
And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”

Hebrews 12:1 (NIV)

Thirty Traits for Which to Pray #17, Hope

This series began here, on January 1, 2013.

#17 Hope

Lord, may the God of hope grant that my children may overflow with

hope and hopefulness by the power of the Holy Spirit.

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, 

so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

Romans 15:13 (NIV)

Thirty Traits for Which to Pray #16, Peace, Peaceability

This series began here, on January 1, 2013.

#16 Peace, Peaceability

Father, let my children “make every effort to do what leads to peace.”

“Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.”

Romans 14:19 (NIV)

Thirty Traits for Which to Pray #15, Generosity

This series began here, on January 1, 2013.

#15 Generosity

Grant that my children may “be generous and wiling to share
[and so] lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age.”

“Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.
In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age,
so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.”

1 Timothy 6:18–19 (NIV)

Thirty Traits for Which to Pray #14, Kindness

This series began here, on January 1, 2013.

#14 Kindness

Lord, may my children “always try to be kind
to each other and to everyone else.”

“Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong,
but always strive to do what is
good for each other and for everyone else.”

1 Thessalonians 5:15 (NIV)

Thirty Traits for Which to Pray #13, Responsiblity

This series began here, on January 1, 2013.

#13 Responsibility

Grant that my children may learn responsibility,
“for each one should carry his own load.”

“For each one should carry [his] own load.”

Galatians 6:5 (NIV)

Thirty Traits for Which to Pray #12, A Passion for God

This series began here, on January 1, 2013.

#12 A Passion for God

Lord, please instill in my children a soul with a craving for You,
a heart that clings passionately to You.

“My soul clings to You; Your right hand upholds me.”

Psalm 63:8 (NASB)

Thirty Traits for Which to Pray #11, Faithfulness

This series began here, on January 1, 2013.

#11 Faithfulness

Let love and faithfulness never leave my children,
but let them bind these twin virtues around their necks
and write them on the tablet of their hearts.

“Let love and faithfulness never leave you;
 bind them around your neck,
 write them on the tablet of your heart.”

Proverbs 3:3 (NIV)

Thirty Traits for Which to Pray #10, Biblical Self-Esteem

This series began here, on January 1, 2013.

#10 Strong, Biblical Self-Esteem

Help my children develop a strong self-esteem that is
rooted in the realization that they are
“God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus.”

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works,
which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

Ephesians 2:10 (KJV)

Thirty Traits for Which to Pray #9, Respect

This series began here, on January 1, 2013.

#9 Respect (for Self, Others, Authority)

Father, grant that my children may show proper respect
to everyone, as Your Word commands.

“Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers,
fear God, honor the emperor.”

1 Peter 2:17 (NIV)

Thirty Traits for Which to Pray #8, Mercy

This series began here, on January 1, 2013.

#8 Mercy

May my children be merciful, Father, as their Father is merciful.

“Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”

Luke 6:36 (NASB)

Thirty Traits for Which to Pray #7, Justice

This series began here, on January 1, 2013.

#7 Justice

Help my children to love justice as You do and to “act justly” in all they do.

“For the LORD is righteous, he loves justice; the upright will see his face.”

Psalm 11:7 (NIV)

“He has told you, O man, what is good;
And what does the LORD require of you
But to do justice, to love kindness,
And to walk humbly with your God?”

Micah 6:8 (NASB)

Thirty Traits for Which to Pray #6, A Love for God’s Word

This series began here, on January 1, 2013.

#6 A Love for God’s Word

May my children grow to find Your Word “more precious than gold, than much pure gold;
[and] sweeter than  honey, than honey from the comb.”

“They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold; 

Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb.”

Psalm 19:10 (NIV)

Thirty Traits for Which to Pray #5, Self-Control

This series began here, on January 1, 2013.

#5 Self-control

Help my children not to be like many others around them each day,
but let them be “alert and self-controlled” in all they do.

“So then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober.”

1 Thessalonians 5:6 (NASB)

Thirty Traits for Which to Pray #4, Honesty & Integrity

This series began here, on January 1, 2013.

#4 Honesty and Integrity

May integrity and honesty be their virtue and their protection.

“Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait for You.”

Psalm 25:21(NASB)

Thirty Traits for Which to Pray #3, Love

This series began here, on January 1, 2013.

#3 Love

Grant, Lord, that my children may learn to live a life of love
through the Spirit who dwells in them.

“And walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us,
an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.”

Ephesians 5:2 (NASB)

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”

Galatians 5:22–23 (NASB)

Thirty Traits for Which to Pray #2, Growth in Grace

This series began here, on January 1, 2013.

#2 Growth in Grace

I pray that my children will grow in the grace and knowledge
of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.”

2 Peter 3:18 (NASB)

25 Most Commonly Misspelled Words

Here’s a little spelling test to challenge you. 25 Most Commonly Misspelled Words is a list that has circulated among American businesses for decades.

Please read the instructions when you go to the link.

Watch for:

Two words have variant spellings for companies using British English spelling. Those two words are repeated at the end of the list of 25 words asking for the British spellings.

Two words also have variants that appear in dictionaries. However, business writers have clear preferences for one of the spellings and expect to see that spelling in business documents.

When you have taken the test, please come back and let me know how you did.

Thirty Traits for Which to Pray #1 Salvation

When I was home schooling my two children, spiritual training was included, of course. It was a part of our everyday life. We prayed for ourselves, that we would be godly parents. We prayed that we would bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, as it says in Ephesians 6:4: “And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.”

The traits I’ll be sharing come from a source I cannot identify (because I clipped the page and cut it into sections). The author presented topics for thirty days of prayer for your children. I looked for the source via Google, but have not come up with it. If you know the source, I would love to give credit.

#1 Salvation

Lord, let your salvation spring up within my children,
that they may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.

“Drip down, O heavens, from above,
And let the clouds pour down righteousness;
Let the earth open up and salvation bear fruit,
And righteousness spring up with it.

I, the LORD, have created it.”

Isaiah 45:8 (NASB)

“For this reason I endure all things for the sake of those who are chosen,
so that they also may obtain the salvation

which is in Christ Jesus and with it eternal glory.”

2 Timothy 2:10 (NASB)