Theresnoplacelike Home wrote:

Amanda, what a wonderful word to chose:Grace!  Like you I struggle with having a type A personality. I am very hard on myself, and I am also very goal oriented as you mentioned. I love that you are treating yourself the way you know God wants you to treat others. Just as we need to give grace to others we need to receive it ourselves which is so much harder to do for some reason. I didn't pick a word for the year or anything just thought those four agreements would be a lot to tackle. But as I am typing the word that comes to mind for me is "Balance." I am a recovering workaholic . I have missed so much of life because I have made myself be stuck behind a desk wanting everything  to be perfect. Thank goodness I realized that its impossible, so I have been trying hard this past year to become a better homemaker, wife, sister, and friend.  That's why I identify with the phrase "There is no place like home" to remind myself that that is where my heart should lie. Not behind a desk at work.

What is a monthly Project Life Layout? And that is awesome that you are helping those girls through Operation Christmas child!

Blessings,
Theresnoplacelike Home

First, I just want to say that it's funny that you say "Balance" because that was actually my second choice!  I tend to get really involved in one project or area and neglect the others, so balance is definitely something I need to work on, as well.  Since I am giving myself grace this year, I'm forgiving myself for not keeping things in balance and just trying again the next day.

Project Life is a simplified version of scrapbooking in which you use plastic inserts with lots of different sized pockets for photos and embellishments.  I used to do really complex scrapbooks but they take a lot of time, so I just got burnt out and bogged down.  I'm hoping Project Life will be a fun and simple way to record my photos and memories from the month.  Here's a blog with some really good

11 But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?”

This is a verse that always strikes me because I think it's such a true response that myself and many other Christians feel.  Often we don't feel good enough or worthy to be asked something like this by God.  We don't feel strong enough or powerful enough.  But God says we are good enough, and with him, anything is possible.  We sometimes forget that we are his creations, lovingly and fearfully made, and God would never make anything that isn't good enough.  

What I love about the "heroes" of the Bible is that they are all hopelessly sinful and flawed, yet God uses them anyway.  In this case, Moses just committed murder and ran away in fear.  This just shows us that there is nothing unredeemable in God's eyes if our hearts are willing.  (David is by far my favorite example of this, but that's a post for another Bible study.) And by placing his trust in God, Moses overcomes fear and self-doubt and accomplishes more than he ever believe he was capable or worthy.

We need to remember that our God is so much bigger than who we think we are.  With God, anything is possible for those who believe and trust in Him.

That's mainly what I felt when reading this passage, but I also wanted to point out that I've always loved the verse in which God says "Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground." It's just such a powerful notion that Moses was standing truly in the presence of God and that the earth under his feet was holy.

I also was very struck by the end of the passage in which God says, "[b][color=#000000]21 And I will give this people favor in the sight of the Egyptians; and it shall be, when you go, that you shall not go empty-handed. [/color

Theresnoplacelike Home wrote:

Thanks, Itsjenniferrose, for the encouragement! It means so much.

And, I love the reminder you have given us that we need to be "impeccable with our  word" because like you said, once we say something it "can rarely be taken back."

I need to work on what you touched upon so much that I have made it one of my four New Year's Resolutions this year. I thought I would share really quickly:
1. Be Impeccable with your word
2. Don't take anything personally
3. Don't make assumptions
4. Always do your best
( I didn't make this up, I just read a book called The Four Agreements, by Don Ruiz, and felt like I could use improvement in each of these areas). The book basically goes into more detail about each of these four topics. Did anyone else make any New Year's Resolutions this year? Or perhaps picked one word to focus on...or one  scripture? I would love to ar if you have time. If not, I will not take it personally... lol

Theresnoplacelike Home

This book sounds really interesting, so I think I'm going to add it to my reading list!

I would be interested in everyone else's resolutions, too.  I decided to make a topic where we could all post them in the Off Topic section if you want to check mine out there!