Nobody’s Perfect

Hostess: Renee Swope
Contributing Writer: Renee Swope

Someone criticized me this week and it really hurt my feelings! Hi, I’m Renee Swope for Proverbs 31 Ministries. It also made me start doubting myself.When someone criticizes me as a mom, I doubt myself as a mom. When someone criticizes me as a friend, I doubt my ability to be a good friend. Ten people can say something nice but what I remember is that one person’s criticism.

I called my friend LeAnn for encouragement and with great wisdom she told me: "Renee, you’ll never be perfect. And if you ever get to where you are, you’ll be all alone!”

After we hung up, I prayed and asked God for His perspective, too. He reminded me that Jesus, the only perfect Person to walk this earth, was constantly criticized but He never doubted His calling. He depended only on His Father’s approval. Remembering this helped remove the sting of criticism and gave me hope. For more encouragement visit Proverbs31.org.

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Giants

Hostess: Lysa TerKeurst
Contributing Writer: Lysa TerKeurst

Every now and then a small, frail person faces a giant and wins! Hi I’m Lysa TerKeurst with Proverbs 31 Ministries.

The giants in our lives make us feel so incapable. They make us excuse certain parts of the Bible that talk about God's power in us.

The Israelites knew all about how paralyzing it can be to face a giant. Goliath stood and called out to the Israelites begging them to send a man to fight him. And then one day, David, a shepherd boy, did just that… and won!

The story of David and Goliath should evoke in us an exciting sense of possibility. David was small just like us. Yet, at some point, he decided to rise to the occasion, and to show everyone what God’s power displayed in a small, human life can look like. And wow, is it grand!

For more encouragement log on to Proverbs31.org.

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What Can I Do For You?

Hostess: Renee Swope
Contributing Writer: Renee Swope

I was completely overwhelmed this week. My hormones were crazy, I had a horrible headache and my to-do list was a mile long. Hi, I’m Renee Swope for Proverbs 31 Ministries.

My friend Lysa called me at the office to ask about a project we were working on. As soon as she heard my voice she knew something was wrong. So, instead of asking about the project, she asked what she could do to help me. I knew she had tons of things on her own to-do list, so I told her I’d be okay. But she insisted, “Renee, what can I do for you?”

Honestly, I couldn’t think of anything. My brain was too tired to think! Finally she just came out and told me what she was going to do – she decided to take over my part of the project we were trying to finish. It meant so much that my very busy friend was willing to step in and help me. Do you have a friend who could use your help today? For more encouragement in your friendships click on Everyday Life at Proverbs31.org.

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Abandon – Positive or Negative

Hostess: Lysa TerKeurst
Contributing Writer: Lysa TerKeurst

Isn’t it funny how a word can be positive or negative? Hi, I’m Lysa TerKeurst for Proverbs 31 Ministries. The word abandon can sound negative. We think of a child left by his mother. But, abandon also happens when a little girl lets go of fear and takes a giant leap, confident that Daddy will catch her. Unfortunately, abandon caused a rich young ruler to walk away from God. He asked Jesus how to inherit eternal life. He claimed to be a good person who followed all the rules. Jesus told him he had to give up everything he owned because his possessions were first in his heart. Jesus saw this abandoning as a positive thing. The young ruler didn’t. I don’t want this to be the tragedy of my life. I want to abandon any bad habit that’ll keep me from making Jesus my first priority. For more, log on to Proverbs31.org.

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Uniquely You

Hostess: Renee Swope
Contributing Writer: Renee Swope

In case you’ve ever wondered, you are uniquely you for a reason! Hi I’m Renee Swope with Proverbs 31 Ministries. God created each of us with a unique personality. But, as different as we all can be it’s also good to know there are others who have similar personality types. In her book, Personality Plus, Florence Littauer describes four common personalities.

A Phlegmatic person wants PEACE, reduced stress, and a feeling of worth. If someone’s Choleric, they desire CONTROL and appreciation for their achievements. A Sanguine person wants to have FUN and likes attention and approval. And, someone who’s Melancholy desires PERFECTION and needs stability and space.

So, no matter which of these personalities best describes us what’s important is to realize that God wants to use everything about who we are for His purposes. For more encouragement on getting good at being you, visit Proverbs31.org.

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Imperfect Followers

Hostess: Lysa TerKeurst
Contributing Writer: Lysa TerKeurst

I know I’m not perfect. So why do I sometimes want others to be? Hi, I’m Lysa TerKeurst for Proverbs 31 Ministries. I want to live a life that pleases God. Not a plastic Christian life of religious checklists and pretense. That would be hypocritical. I want to live completely for Jesus. There have been others who’ve gone before me who desired this as well. I find myself fascinated by those heroes of faith who, despite their shortcomings, pleased God with their lives. But, sometimes I find their mistakes and wrongdoings a little unsettling. There’s a part of me that really wishes they would’ve been perfect so I could perfectly follow in their footsteps. But, God never called me to follow other people. Besides, it wasn't their perfect actions that delighted God. It was a desire to follow Him and stand up for the truth no matter what. For more encouragement log on to Proverbs31.org.

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Listening to God

Hostess: Renee Swope
Contributing Writer: Renee Swope

I just love having coffee with my friend Holly. I guess it’s because she loves to listen! Hi, I’m Renee Swope for Proverbs 31 Ministries. I used to feel bad that Holly could get me to do most of the talking when we’re together, but then I realized she’s most comfortable listening. And it’s a gift. After we’re together, I always feel appreciated and encouraged.

On my way home I decided to give that same gift to God next time we’re together. I want Him feel loved, appreciated and listened to! What if after I spent time with God, He thought to Himself, “Wow, Renee really listened! She asked what I have been thinking about. Even when I tried to get her to talk about herself, she turned it around and asked about me. Then she spent 10 minutes telling me what she appreciates that I’ve done. Renee was more interested in me than she was in herself.”

Wouldn’t it be amazing if God felt loved and listened to after spending time with us? For more encouragement in listening to God, visit Proverbs31.org.

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Super-calla-fragilistic

Hostess: Lysa TerKeurst
Contributing Writer: Lysa TerKeurst

“Mom we have to leave for school right now!” Hi, I’m Lysa TerKeurst for Proverbs 31 Ministries. As my daughter urged me to hurry I said, “Okay, did you brush your teeth?” Her answer shocked me. “That's disgusting!” “What's disgusting?” I asked. “Brushing your teeth in the morning. Gross!” Now I’m about to hyperventilate because we’re halfway through the year and it hasn't occurred to me to ask this before. “You mean today it's gross but the other one hundred or so days of school you’ve brushed them right?” “Nope.” “What about cavities?” “I’m not worried about it.” So, I said: “Well, Brooke, I'm the boss of you and from now on you'll brush your teeth in the morning, in the evening, and now I'm adding when you get home from school, too!” Does this sound like something that might take place in your home? If so, you’re not alone! Read more from moms like you at Proverbs31.org.

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Falling Forward

Hostess: Renee Swope
Contributing Writer: Renee Swope

I stood at the top of a beautiful mountain listening to my son, Joshua, beg me to ski down. Come on mom, it's not that bad. Watch me. Hi, I’m Renee Swope for Proverbs 31 Ministries. I finally went down and skied pretty well…until I had to stop! I hit a snowdrift, my skis flew up in the air, my neck jerked back, and my legs twisted like pretzels. I laid there in the snow trying to breathe, I thought: That’s it! No more skiing. I’m not risking another fall. It’s not worth it!

But then I sensed God whisper to my heart, "Renee, you’ll never experience all I have for you if you’re not willing to get up and try again." He was right. That day held so many family memories on the slopes that I would not have wanted to miss.

Isn’t it easy to give up when we get hurt? Imagine what we might be missing because we’re not willing to fall forward and trust God again. For more encouragement visit Proverbs31.org.

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LOVE

Hostess: Lysa TerKeurst
Contributing Writer: Lysa TerKeurst

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. But there are some words that are worth a thousand pictures. Hi, I’m Lysa Terkeurst for Proverbs 31 Ministries. Love is a powerful word. One that makes you feel good. One that can open you up to a world of hurt. Love can mean acceptance. But can also leave you in the pit of rejection. It can be flippantly spoken. I love chocolate. It can cause feelings of fondness. I love pictures drawn by my kids. It can be an invitation that changes your life. Will you marry me? It can be the essence of life. Jesus. And when we begin a lifesaving relationship with the only One who’s truly worthy to be called love, we find out that perfect love chases fear away. Perfect love died for us. Perfect love always stays with us. For more about the love God has for you, log on to Proverbs31.org.

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What’s Wrong with Me?

Hostess: Renee Swope
Contributing Writer: Renee Swope

What's wrong with ME? Do you ever ask yourself that question? Hi I’m Renee Swope with Proverbs 31 Ministries.

Recently it dawned on me that every time I ask, "What's wrong with me?" I’m actually telling myself that something IS wrong with me. Then I try to figure out what my illusive fault is so I can fix it. But honestly, what I need to fix is the question I'm asking and the statement I'm making with those four powerful words.Why? Because every time I ask, "What's wrong with me?" I tell myself that something is wrong with me.

And if you’re doing it, too, let's make a pact to stop.

God doesn’t want us telling ourselves that something’s wrong with us. He created us. He wants us to focus our time and thoughts doing what we do best, instead of criticizing our flaws. None of us are perfect, but WE ARE "fearfully and wonderfully made" - just the way God planned. For more encouragement, log on to Proverbs 31.org.

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A Little More Fight

Hostess: Lysa TerKeurst
Contributing Writer: Lysa TerKeurst

I’ve discovered something about teenagers. They seem to want to fight for something. Hi I’m Lysa TerKeurst with Proverbs31 Ministries.

We recently staged a debate with our kids. We gave them the Biblical answer to a life question and then we fought for the world’s answer. It was amazing to see how passionately they defended their faith.

I don't want them just to have a memorized list of do's and don'ts. Principles are important but passion and personal convictions are crucial.I want them to have a deep love for Jesus. I want them to pursue holiness not out of habit but out of desire. I want them to take a stand against the junk this world throws at them not because Mom and Dad guilt them into but because personal convictions have carved a path through their heart and truly affect their decision making.

For more everyday life ideas, log on to Proverbs 31.org.

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What If?

Hostess: Renee Swope
Contributing Writer: Renee Swope

What if today when I spend time with God instead of focusing on all of my concerns, I decided to focus only on Him? Hi, I’m Renee Swope for Proverbs 31 Ministries.

Sometimes I feel like I hold a magnifying glass over my concerns and they get bigger and bigger, but what if I took the magnifying glass off my worries and struggles, and instead I completely focused on God's love, God's power, God's provision, God's strength and God's goodness. Imagine what life would be like if God became bigger than anything else. Instead of focusing on what I may think is wrong with me, I'd be consumed by all that is right with Him.

The Bible tells us to fix our eyes on Jesus – the author and perfecter of our faith. So today, let’s do it. Let’s stop thinking about us and start thinking more about HIM! I’ll bet our outlook will be completely transformed and our problems will shrink in comparison. For more encouragement, visit Proverbs31.org and sign up for our free email devotions.

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Linger a Little Longer

Hostess: Lysa TerKeurst
Contributing Writer: Lysa TerKeurst

Sometimes I have to remind myself that every day, even a really tough one, is a gift. Hi I’m Lysa TerKeurst with Proverbs31 Ministries. So, how can we truly embrace each day – even the hard ones?

Well, we can grab someone we love and let our embrace linger just a moment longer. We can take mental pictures of a baby’s toothless grin, the tousled hair of a toddler, the crooked smile of a teenager. We can hold hands with our spouse. We can look past all those dirty dishes in the sink, the laundry piled high, and the stuff the kids left out and see the beauty entangled in all this evidence of life. We can realize that we aren’t perfect and neither is anyone in our home. We can try to do life God’s way, even when it’s been another one of “those” days. And, finally, we can thank God for it all.

If you’d like to receive more daily encouragement, log on to Proverbs 31.org.

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To Complete or Compete?

Hostess: Renee Swope
Contributing Writer: Renee Swope

Have you ever wondered why you’re the way you are, or why you do things the way you do? Hi I’m Renee Swope with Proverbs 31 Ministries. From the time I was in Jr. High, I didn't really like who I was. I compared myself to girls around me and tried to figure out who people liked most, so I could be like them. It was exhausting!

Comparison is our worst enemy because it leaves us confused and discontent. My friend Genia summed it well one day while we were talking about comparison. She said, “When I compare myself with someone else, I can never measure up because I’m comparing my insides with their outsides.”

Comparison becomes a competition but no one wins! God never intended for women to compete with each other; He wants us to complete each other. We need to encourage each other’s strengths and be who God created us to be. For more encouragement on completing, not competing as women log on to Proverbs31.org and click on Everyday Life.

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Celebrating Motherhood

Hostess: Lysa TerKeurst
Contributing Writer: Lysa TerKeurst

Today is a big day. Hi I’m Lysa TerKeurst with Proverbs31 Ministries. I am officially celebrating 14 years of motherhood which technically means that it’s my oldest daughter's birthday. But secretly, I’m having a little party for myself too. You see 14 years ago, I didn’t think I’d actually survive this motherhood thing.

If I could go back and talk to myself 14 years ago here’s what I’d say:

You'll go through a season where you think she'll never get the potty thing. Trust me; she won’t go to kindergarten wearing a diaper.

And, savor every time she says, "hold me mommy" in the sweetest toddler voice ever. She’ll eventually stop saying it but she’ll never stop wanting it.

Love her through the tangles, the frizzies, and the tearful cries of, "I hate my hair." Eventually she’ll appreciate her natural curls.

For more motherhood encouragement, visit Proverbs31.org.

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A Little Help from a Friend

Hostess: Renee Swope
Contributing Writer: Jill Tracey

Sometimes a friend makes all the difference! Hi, I’m Renee Swope for Proverbs 31 Ministries.

Jill just ran her first 5-K and the first thing she said when it was over was, “WOW, I’m SLOW!” But, that was OK with her. She was just happy to finish the race. She never thought she’d run anything close to 3 miles!

Jill says there’s no way she would’ve made it without her husband and best friend, Jeremy, who ran right next to her the whole race. Every time she wanted to give up, Jeremy was right there reminding her that she COULD make it to the end. Then, at the last minute, he dropped back so Jill wouldn't be the last one to cross the finish line, he was! What a guy, huh?

Do you have a friend or loved who’ll run the races of life with you? Someone who’ll keep you going when everything in you SCREAMS that you can't?! Proverbs 31 Ministries would like to be that kind of friend. Find out more at Proverbs31.org.

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Are You a Petal Picker?

Hostess: Lysa TerKeurst
Contributing Writer: Lysa TerKeurst

You know, there seems to be a fundamental need inside all women to be liked. Hi, I’m Lysa TerKeurst for Proverbs 31 Ministries. We want other women to totally get us and walk away thinking we’re pretty neat. It’s like we carry around a miniature scale. On one side we put our coolness and, on the other side, our total dorkiness.

Put a group of us in a space to mingle for a while and when we leave I guarantee many of us will walk away playing that daisy petal game in our heads: “She likes me … she likes me not.”

I’ve had to choose to mentally set those thoughts aside. I’ve had to retrain my brain so God’s truths interrupt my negative thought patterns. I’ll look up and say, “God, You not only like me, You love me … and that’s enough.”
For more encouragement and inspiration log on to Proverbs 31.org where you can sign up for our free daily devotion or visit Lysa’s blog at Proverbs31.org.

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Is That All He Thinks About?

Hostess: Renee Swope
Contributing Writer: Marla Taviano

Sometimes husbands and wives are on opposite wavelengths when it comes to spending time together. Hi, I'm Renee Swope for Proverbs 31 Ministries.

The wife will want to go for a walk, sit and talk over coffee and just be together. The husband usually has other things in mind. A friend was telling me recently that she wishes her husband wasn’t so focused on the physical aspect of their relationship. She wishes he were more concerned with her emotional needs.

In her book, Is That All He Thinks About?, author Marla Taviano encourages wives to recognize that God designed men and women differently on purpose--so we'll complement each other, balance each other, and be strong where the other is weak.

I’ve been feeling like God wants me to look for ways to embrace those differences instead of wishing we were more alike. I know God wants both husbands and wives to enjoy each other - emotionally and physically. So what are some ways we can do that? To share your thoughts with us, visit Proverbs31.org.

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The Red Flags in Dating

Hostess: Lysa TerKeurst
Contributing Writer: Poppy Smith

A group of teenage girls were recently asked if they would date a boy simply because he was good looking. Hi, I’m Lysa TerKeurst for Proverbs 31 Ministries.

Most said yes, they would date someone on good looks alone. My friend who was asking the question asked another, ‘But what do you know about him?” The silence made her point.

She then talked with the girls about 5 red flags to look for before entering a dating or courting relationship with a guy.

Does he lose his temper frequently? Does he consider himself a failure and seem to be looking for a rescuer? Has there been abuse in his home? Does he often put you down or disrespect you? And, does he appear to be jealous, controlling, or need to spend all his free time with you?

I thought these questions could help everyone avoid getting into a situation that could lead to heartache! For more, visit Proverbs31.org.

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Link to Poppy Smith’s blog to read this article in its entirety

What if I was Broken?

Hostess: Renee Swope
Contributing Writer: Renee Swope and Tracie Miles

Have you ever felt broken and useless? Hi, I’m Renee Swope for Proverbs 31 Ministries. My friend Tracie was cleaning out a cluttered kitchen cabinet, when she found an old broken can opener. She handed it to her nine year-old so he could throw it away. But he asked if he could keep it.

Tracie wondered why he’d want an old, dirty, useless can opener. But he begged her to let him keep it! Finally she said:

"Honey, it’s broken, I don't want it anymore, so throw it away please."

"Well if I was broken, would you just throw me away?" her son asked.Tracie bent down and looked into her child’s eyes and told him that she would never throw him away, no matter what, because he was too valuable to her!

You know, the same is true for us. No matter how broken we feel or look, God would never throw us away, no matter what, because we are too valuable to HIM! For more encouragement, visit Proverbs 31 Ministries at Proverbs 31.org.

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