It's just the way I am. Or is it?

It's just the way I am. I've been telling myself this for years about my habit of worrying. While that line of thinking might make me feel better about myself, it is just not true. If I believe that Scripture is the authoritative Word of God then I have to align my thoughts with His and He has made his will for me in this area perfectly clear. "For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control." (2 Timothy 1:7). He also says "...we have the mind of Christ." (2 Corinthians 2:16). Oswald Chambers expounds on this a little more in this excerpt from My Utmost for His Highest: "Fussing always ends in sin. We imagine that a little anxiety and worry are an indication how really wise we are; it is much more of an indication of how really wicked we are. Fretting springs from a determination to get our own way. Our Lord never worried and He was never anxious...Fretting is wicked if you are a child of God...all our fret and worry is caused by calculating without God." [Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest (1935; reprint, Uhrichsville, Ohio: Barbour, n.d.), 135.]

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Create a personalized mini dry erase board from that envelope sitting on your kitchen counter with these instructions from Craft Tutorials.

___________________________________

And the winner of the

Blabla Monkey Backpack is...

Jennifer from Muncie, IN

Congratulations!

Thank you, Blabla Kids for making

this giveaway possible!

Another great giveaway will be

announced on Wednesday so

stay tuned!

_________________________

Today's sweet shoppe...

Save 10% on your order from

Gifts Define with coupon code

"GDNEST10". Offer valid thru

April 24th, 2008.

Save 10% on your order from

Gifts Define with coupon code

"GDNEST10". Offer valid thru

April 24th, 2008.

~ my picks ~


{Bannerama Wall Art}

{Conversation Birds}


~ click below to see previously featured shoppes ~

All Tangled Up

Perhaps you know the feeling. Something is worrying you and your mind is constantly getting tangled up in those thoughts, making you "unavailable" to everyone around you. I frequently find myself zoning out in conversations or too wound up to sleep at night because I'm fretting over some random "what if", that will probably never actually happen. Someone recently reminded me that even if we do not verbalize our worries, our children often discern the fear on our faces. Rolling my burdens onto the Lord (and leaving them there) is a consistent struggle for me but lately I have been reminded how important it is. Not only does needless worry rob me of peace and joy, it robs my family of my attention and affection. I don't want to miss precious teachable moments because my own mind is tangled up with worry. The enemy knows my weak spots and aims with precision. I'm trying to learn to spit out the lies (and fears) that he feeds me, tell him I know it's trash, and feast on the Word to replace those thoughts.

Proverbs 31:25 & 26

She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.

Nurture: Visit the new feature, "naturals and organics for baby..." and explore a more gentle approach to caring for your little bundle. The list of natural and organic resources may be updated several times a week so check this section frequently for fresh finds. If you have a tip you'd like to submit please send it to notesfrommynest@gmail.com.

Prepare: Let your kids help out in the kitchen with these tips from Better Homes & Gardens.

Today's sweet shoppe...

The Walrus & the Carpenter

More sweet shoppes....

When I Don't, He Does...

Are you worried about your children? When I start worrying about my daughter, it helps to remind myself that her Heavenly Father understands her needs perfectly and loves her far more deeply than I can begin to imagine. Even when I don't know what is best, I can entrust her perfectly to His watchful care. Besides, He knew her long before I did!

For You did form my inward parts; You did knit me together in my mother's womb. I will confess and praise You for You are fearful and wonderful and for the awful wonder of my birth! Wonderful are Your works, and that my inner self knows right well. My frame was not hidden from You when I was being formed in secret [and] intricately and curiously wrought [as if embroidered with various colors] in the depths of the earth [a region of darkness and mystery]. Your eyes saw my unformed substance, and in Your book all the days [of my life] were written before ever they took shape, when as yet there was none of them. How precious and weighty also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How vast is the sum of them! Psalm 139:13-17.

Nurture: Engage each member of your family in dinner time conversations by creating a conversation jar (a tip from FamilyFun.com). You can come up with questions yourself or get your kids involved. (Examples: What is your favorite thing about your sister? If you could be any animal, what would you be, and why? What is one kind thing that our family could do for (insert name) this week? ).

Create a cute tote with these instructions from Chocolate On My Cranium.

Today's Sweet Shoppe...

Looking for the perfect party favors or

invitations? Consider this collection by

graphic designers, Aimee Aikens and

Kirsten Yeates. Many of their products

are handcrafted and environmentally

friendly, all the way down to the packaging.

Pear & Peony also offers custom design services

and would love to create logos, product labels,

business cards, letterhead, event programs,

menus, stationary, address labels and holiday

cards just for you!



~ my favorite pick ~

natural glycerin scented soaps

~ to visit shoppes previously featured , click below ~