Category Archives: positive living

posts about living an abundant, happy life

Training boys to work

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With my husband working long hours now, not being able to do many of the tasks needing done in our home, my honey “to do” list is growing. I’m thankful for a teenage son who enjoys working and can carry out most of “dads” work. I believe my husband will agree as well.

We have needed a new shoe rack as ours has grown too small, what a great task to give to my boys to make. With some trial and error, some suggestions from mom, they came out with my new shoe rack. Such a sense of accomplishment from the boys, to be able to share in doing a useful productive task for our family.

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In today’s society we have lost the importance of training our boys to be hard-working men. What is the good of knowing how to read or write when the young man doesn’t have the heart to work?  Today’s boys are often forced to sit for hours,year after year in front of books. Child labor laws don’t even let them work hard hours until after 12 to 16 years of age, then folks wonder why teenagers just want to sit on the couch and play video games all day long.

A boy who learns to love work will master his school work when it’s needed . He will learn to read what’s important. But in the meantime, his interaction with things that are practical will offer the wisdom he needs to direct himself into useful pursuits, and empower him to provide for a family of his own in the days to come .

The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied. –Proverbs 13:4

Within every man is the desire to work. Even though some men don’t even know that is there. However when necessity or some pressing authority is pushing that in a constructive useful way, most men will learn to enjoy work. They will love to build, to create, to make useful practical things.

I pray you train your boys to become future, hard-working men.

 If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies. Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.               2 Thessalonians 3:10-12

 

 

How to turn a bad day into a good day in 7 easy steps

 

How to turn a bad day into a good day in 7 easy steps

  1. Expect good things. Say to yourself that today will be a great day. Anticipate a great thing happening today.
  2. Focus on positive points. See each person and each problem, as an opportunity to be a blessing to them in some small way.
  3. Refuse to make self-fulfilling prophesy. Don’t assume the world is right when telling you that you deserve to be unhappy. Everyone has a voice and a special plan for their lives. Embrace it, don’t deny it.
  4. Your past does not determine your future. No matter what mistakes you may have made in the past, or yesterday for that matter, today is a new day. The sun shall rise again.
  5. Get a sense of proportion. Think is this really going to matter two weeks from now?
  6. Exercise, eat well, and get enough sleep. You can’t fix how you feel if your not taking care of the body you have to live in.
  7. Be thankful. A heart of gratitude is truly thankful for whatever is thrown their way.

 

 

The most stolen book…………really????

While listening to our local christian radio station the other day, I was shocked at what I had heard.  They were talking about the most stolen items in America.  The usuals were on the list, designer clothing, electronics, baby formula, basically things they could re sell on the black market.

 

Then they said the most stolen book was…………….get this……..the Bible.  Funny thing is I think that if you would seek it out any christian group or person would probably be very happy to get you your own for free.  Most ministry’s have the ability to get a bible for someone who needs one.

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 I had to wonder what would be the reasoning as to why that is so?  A quick google search confirmed some theories.

  • The Bible continues to be the most printed book ever in history, its bound to be high on any list because of sheer volume.
  • People steal it for the thrill of it…”Look at me, I stole a book that says do not steal!”….people are so easily amused
  • Maybe people who are opposed to it are seeking to keep it out of others hands.  Yah good luck with that one.

 

 

Where have all the “good daddy’s gone?”

 

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It doesnt take a genius to know the facts about how our society has lost the fathers in the home. Most every problem our young men have today can be some how related back to the relationship they had with their fathers. Most Dads are too busy working or following their own leisure activities, that they forgot what their first role in life was—to be a father.

 

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Then you have the other side of the spectrum where the fathers are told to be their child’s ‘friend’ instead of being their child’s parent which is leading to a whole generation of children growing up with no sense of direction or self-control. These children are learning to have an unhealthy sense of entitlement and have an inability to deal with any authority. They have no idea about quaint notions like ‘boundaries’ or ‘the consequences of their actions’. We are witnessing the creation of a generation of selfish teenagers who feel the world owes them something for having done absolutely nothing.
When does all this madness stop. When do Dads step up and take a stand to reclaim their place in the home?

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Children need rules, direction, and authority in order to thrive. They need to fail, to fall down, to get hurt, to cry, and to see consequences to their actions in order to be healthy and well-adjusted.
Fathers, you are the primary model of manhood for your sons. You are their most meaningful mentor, and believe it or not, you are their hero in countless ways. Your words and your example are a great influence on them.

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A good father makes all the difference in a child’s life. He’s a pillar of strength, support and discipline. His work is endless and, oftentimes, thankless. But in the end, it shows in the sound, well-adjusted children he raises.

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For a man to raise his boys, that is his pride and joy. In your boys you should see a promising future and a hope for a better, more improved version of your self. All their accomplishments should be a joy to you. You need to share in their worries and problems and counsel them as you can.

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Talk to them about everything. Share with them your failures, your how-to’s, and just good clean man talk. Dont dominate the conversation.  Ask questions, get them to open up about issues in their lives. Let them know you truly do care whats going on.

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Include them in all your activities. If you are away from the home most of the day, make sure you save “man” projects to do with your boys. Teach them skills that they will need for their future.

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And fathers pray for your boys. All of the negative influences that our teenage boys are being shown in every aspect of their lives through digital media is staggering. Pray that your boys will keep their eyes closed to such negative influences in the world.

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In honor of Fathers Day, to the most wonderful “daddy” my children could ever have.  Thank you for being a wonderful man for our sons. ( and daughters too).  Happy Fathers Day!


 

 

 

 

 

 

The difference a smile makes


I had lots of errands to run today and had to take all 8 of my children with me. I was not looking forward to it, as it can get hectic. You never know if a child is going to have a meltdown right in the middle of the store. But thankfully, nothing of that caliber happened today. Despite being gone for over 6 hours all the children were good. It was very easy to smile and show the world that “yes, I am very happy with my life.”
But what if my day had gone quite differently? What if I had been annoyed with my children? What would I be saying to the world then? That I am no different and life is crappy. That is not what I want to do with my life. I want to be an influence, a positive one to others. How can I do that?
The answer is very simple……a smile. What a difference a smile makes.

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Each cashier that I came in contact with, did not look very happy. Most looked downright annoyed. Each and every one I had to interact with I made sure to ask them a question and address them by name with a smile. I would listen to their complaints and try and leave an encouraging response. Even my “in training” bagger I was sure to say what a great job she was doing and that the store was very fortunate to have such a hard worker like herself. That instantly put a smile on her face. Did it stay with her? I don’t know, but I hope that even though her day was going quite dimly, she might look back on that one word of positiveness and smile.

The bible says in Proverbs 17:22 A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

A complaining spirit drains us emotionally and takes away our joy. It reflects pessimism, not optimism. But those who learn to think and speak about “‘praiseworthy things” have a joyful heart.
Try it today. Smile at your children more, let them know that Mom or Dad delights in them. How about your spouse, do they get to see a smile when they first walk in the door? How about the people you interact with at work? Its amazing what a little smile will do for a person’s soul.

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