I am truly amazed by the wealth of knowledge that has come to me from reading As a Man Thinketh. Every single day I read there is something else that rings completely true for me. I continually share bits and pieces of them in my facebook. It has been such a treasure to me. This small book is jam packed with goodness. I would highly recommend reading it. You can go online and the text is all on there for free. Here is a link
Happy Reading!
I am so excited about this. Aubrey is playing her first live show this Wednesday in Provo. She has such an amazing voice. I have missed hearing her sing since she moved out on her own. I can't wait..
"Man is buffeted by circumstances so long as he believes himself to be the creature of outside conditions, but when he realizes that he is a creative power, and that he may command the hidden soil and seeds of his being out of which circumstances grow, he then becomes the rightful master of himself." - James Allen
Jonathan got an IPad from his boss and I have really enjoyed having it. What I have enjoyed most is an application called IBook. It allows me to have so many books at the touch of my fingertips. Some of my favorite books are free! The one I am reading again is called As a man Thinketh by James Allen. I think this is on my list of one of my favorites. It's full of so much thought provoking material for such a small book. I would highly recommend it.
So I am having a predicament and I am really not sure what to do about it. How personal do I make my blog? You see I am having lots of learning experiences lately that have really opened my eyes to some of my own behaviors. Do I write about those or do I just keep this blog about the happenings in my family life. I am not sure what to do. This I think is why my posts have been few and far between lately.
For instance I have been reading some amazing books. I have had some ah-ha moments with them, some that have really awakened me to behaviors that I want to change in myself. But, I struggle with knowing what to share. Anyway, those are some of my thoughts. Hopefully, I will get it figured out and post more one way or the other..
Oh! What a bad blogger I am. So much has happened. So I really would like to hit on the highlights. But, we usually take all the pictures with Jonathan's phone and so when I sit down to update, I think "I have got to go to his computer and get the pictures that I want." Than, end up not updating anything because I don't have the pictures to go along with it. So, my goal is to get these things done by the end of this week.
But for today I want to write what is on my mind right now.
I was reading in Matthew chapter 11. There were a few things that really stood out to me. In verse 19 it talks about how the Pharisees were judging Christ and he once again says it is by our works and deeds that will tell us in whom we follow.
This theme keeps playing out for me in my life. I am guessing the Lord really wants me to be aware of my actions towards others, especially those that are closest to me. Sometimes, it is easier to be nicer to strangers than the ones that I love. It also helps me to remember to not make unrighteous judgments. I can do better. I am thankful for this continual reminder for me in all the things I have been reading lately. For me it's like a big flashing sign that says " this is what you need to be working on." I am thankful for that.
I have always been a big believer in the saying actions speak louder than words. In the last general conference we had, I heard the quote "your actions are speaking so loudly, I can't hear what you are saying." I have tried to make sure that my words and actions are saying the same thing. Right now I am reading the most amazing book and I came across something that I would like to share.
" there is a power in every word we say and every thought we think, but sometimes the greatest service we can offer is not to say something. Words are but one form of communication and they are not nearly as potent as the energy contained in our actions, including our thoughts, body language, eye contact and facial expressions. You know you trust the energy behind the words spoken to you far more than you do the words themselves. When you say something you don't mean, you know the other person picks that up. You can feel it."
This was an Ah hah! Moment for me. I really want to commit myself to be able to do this and be this.
It seems to me that whatever I am looking for I find it. If I choose to look for the bad in things I find it. The great thing about this is, it happens with the good also. I was having a particularly hard evening and decided to read and try and get my mind off of things that have been weighing me down. I found this great quote that I really want to share.
“... joy and sorrow are inseparable. . . together they come and when one sits alone with you . . . remember that the other is asleep upon your bed.”
-Kahlil Gibran
