Study the Word Wednesday: What is Attitude?

What is Attitude?

Attitude, according to a dictionary, is "manner, disposition, or feeling with regard to person or thing. Position or posture of the body." Which leads us to see that attitude is more than just a feeling. A person is able to say what she feels without using actual words. (example, if my children are fighting and I make one of them apologize to the other... even though they might say it with words, their body language usually shows a different attitude.) 

The bible is full of examples where attitude is more than mere words. 

• "And Jacob noticed that Laban's attitude toward him was not what it had been" Genesis 31:2
• "Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and his attitude toward them changed" Daniel 3:19
• "Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus" Philippians 2:5
• "For seven days they celebrated with joy the Feast of Unleavened Bread, because the Lord had filled them with joy by changing the attitude of the King of Assyria, so that he assisted them in the work on the house of God, the God is Israel" Ezra 6:22
• So the Lord said to Solomon, 'Since this is your attitude and you have not kept my covenant and my decrees, which I commanded you, I will most certainly tear the kingdom away from you and give it to one of your subordinates" 1Kings 11:11

Charles Swindoll has written an insightful outlook on attitude and its importance, I'm sure most of us have read or heard some of it in our lives:

“The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life.

“It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do.

“It is more important than appearance, giftedness, or skill.

“The remarkable thing is—we have a choice every day of our lives regarding the attitude we embrace for that day.

“We cannot change our past. We cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable.

“The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude. . . .

“I’m convinced that life is 10 percent what happens to me and 90 percent how I react to it. And so it is with you.

“We are in charge of our attitudes.”

He shows us that we are in charge of our attitudes. Different kinds of circumstances happen around us, but it is up to us how we react to those circumstances. Our words say much about our attitude, but our actions say even more. Our body language is extremely important. Attitudes are more than feelings. We all have feelings, both good and bad. Attitudes, however, are born from feelings that are primarily present in our lives. If happy, positive feelings are primarily present in your life, you will be a happy, positive person. If you harbor bitterness and unforgiveness deep inside, you will appear bitter and hard to others.

Ask the Lord to search your heart and show you the wrong attitudes you need to correct. No matter how highly we might like to think of ourselves, we have to admit... there's always room for improvement. ;)

Storm Isaac

****** UPDATE ******
Isaac has hit and passed, we survived with nothing more than some downed tree limbs and a two day power outage! Praise the Lord! 

Okay ladies,

It looks, at this point anyway, like this storm Isaac is going to be headed for us here in Louisiana.

The school board has closed the schools here for at LEAST the next two days. They will re-evaluate the situation once the storm has passed.

I was just informed that we are not required to come into work for the same amount of time. As much as I love a two day paid vacation from work, I really dislike preparing for hurricanes. 

I ask you to please pray that this storm stays at a Category 1 or less! 

The expense of leaving for a hurricane and then the headache of trying to find a hotel with vacancies is horrible. We can ride out a 1 or less... so that's what I'm praying for :).  

Of course, I would love it if the storm doesn't come here at all, but praying for that will mean praying for it to hit someone else... so I really don't like doing that. 

With gas tanks and cans filled up... we are trying to prepare for the worse, but are praying for the best.

I had intentions on posting for the giveaway today, but I believe I will hold off until after things slow down again from the storm. Be on the lookout though, the Child Training Bible is so worth entering! 

I must say that I WILL be sure to pack it if we have to leave. I don't want to chance loosing it in the storm.

It's My Birthday!!!

Hello Beautiful Ladies!!!

Today is a wonderful day, because it's the day I drew my first breath. 

Today is my birthday!!

I will be doing a giveaway next week to CELEBRATE!!!

I don't want to spend a whole lot of time blogging today, I want to rest a bit ;)

But I did want to give you a peak at what's up for grabs. 

I received my Child Training Bible sometime at the beginning of August, and let me tell you... I can't imagine going without it now! It has been such a huge blessing in my home. 

When any of the children, visitors, or my husband and I have a question about something, we can go straight to the bible and look up the scriptures. The little ones can even do this by themselves. 

I also have my children write scripture for discipline... example, if my son keeps picking on one of his sisters... I'll make him write the scriptures that correspond to quarreling or fighting. My husband said the other day "They're going to know those scriptures by heart after a few months."  I said "I know... that's the point." :)

Here's the description straight from the Child Training Bible web site:

The Child Training Bible is tool that allows parents and children (and anyone that loves the Word of God) to go directly to the pages of Scripture for instruction in 20 key areas with a complete section dedicated to the gospel. 

The CTB was designed with Colossians 3:9-10 in mind.  “You have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self.”  The Scriptures selected for the CTB teach why we are to “put off” certain behavior and what godly behavior we are to “put on” instead.

The front key of the CTB is a visual index of the areas that Scripture teaches us to “put off.”  These areas correspond to color-coded tabs and highlighted text.  CTB Scriptures address both negative and positive responses with the emphasis on Jesus Himself, His perfect life as an example and gift to us.

To make a Child Training Bible you will use the CTB charts that include over 200 Scripture references, heart and gospel questions, and sample prayers.

Make a CTB for your family to have Scripture accessible and central in your home.

The Child Training Bible is also a perfect project for homeschool groups, moms clubs, and church groups.  Group discounts are available on orders of 10 or more CTB Chart Sets.  Contact ChildTrainingBible@gmail.com for details.  Follow the Child Training Bible on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest for information on the release of new products.    

Here's a video explanation of this magnificent tool! 

I am convinced that EVERY house should own one of these!

God has definitely used Mindy and her family to bless others. The time and dedication they have spent putting this system together... no amount of thanks could be enough.

How much do I love the Child Training Bible? 

Enough to offer my blessed blog readers a chance to win one at no cost to yourself! 

Check back next week for the giveaway!

 I'm off to relax on this beautiful day the Lord has made, the day he made beautiful me! ;)

Louisiana Beignet Recipe - cheaters version

If anyone has ever visited here in Louisiana, you know you have GOT to taste our sweet southern Beignets. So delicious they almost melt in your mouth. 

They became the official state doughnut of Louisiana in 1986... and for good reason! Hardly anyone around can pass up the goodness of this warm tasty treat.

If you aren't fortunate enough to live in South Louisiana, there's hope for you yet! 

I'm going to include in this post... a super fast, super yummy recipe for making a cheaters Beignet! My kids actually beg me to make this in the mornings at times. It's so fast to make, and so yummy! ( I know I keep saying that... but they are!)

So... here it is! drum roll please! (dddd...dddd...dddd...)

You will need:

• 1 can of Grands Biscuits
• 1.5 cups of vegetable oil
• 1 small bag of powdered sugar

So, all you need to do is pour the oil into a skillet and begin to heat it.

While the oil is heating, you cut each Grands biscuit... I've done this two ways, it all depends on the size you want to end up with... you can 1.) cut them in half diagonally from a top "corner" to a bottom "corner" to get 2 Beignets from each biscuit or you can 2.) cut each biscuit into quarters to get 4 biscuits each. ( If you cut them into quarters, simply give each piece a little stretch.)

Once the oil is hot, place as many biscuit pieces as you can into the frying pan and turn constantly until they are golden brown in color. 

Place them onto a paper towel to allow the excess oil to drain off them. Repeat this process until they are all cooked.

Now all you have to do is generously shake powdered sugar only the pile and enjoy while they are still warm!

I hope you enjoy! If you try this recipe, let me know how you liked it!

Coming Soon, Study the Word Wednesday!

Coming September 5, 2012!!!
Study the Word Wednesday!

Our first study topic will be

Attitude is Everything...

Did you know you should have the same attitude as Christ?

Philippians 2:3-5  says:"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus." 

Each Wednesday we will study attitude a little deeper. Sub topics will be:

1. What is attitude?

2. What kind of attitude should I have?

3. How can I use God's Word to change my attitude?

4. What effect does my attitude have on my actions?

5. What effect does my attitude have on others?

6. How can I help others have a positive attitude?

The Studies will be based off the lessons I give in my TGM (Teen Girls Ministry) group on Wednesday nights. I have been gaining so much from these lessons myself... I know others out there could benefit. How to better reach people than the use of the web? :) 

Hope to see you there, and God bless!!!