Wisdom from Facebook & Give A Way Announcement!

So, once again this blog post is brought to you by a post that I shared on Facebook yet again on Saturday. Perhaps that will be a new feature here on the blog!

Here is the post that I shared:

Now, let me tell you that I have spent a lot of time, energy, focus, and well... creativity trying to allow myself to accept that I will not fit into a mold that any "man" makes for me. (By man I am speaking in terms of all humans.) Do you know why? Because God created me ~ with a purpose for HIM in that creation. There is not one person who can make me be different than what He created me to be. Well.. they can if I allow it, and there have been many times I have allowed it. I have changed the way I do things from time to time to "fit in" and or to impress.

When I am true to who I am, who God created me to be ~ then I am indeed the most happiest, and I am not looking to please others outside of the boundaries of God. Don't get me wrong. I will always desire to please my husband and my boss(es) at work. I will do things to make others happy ~ because it does make me happy but I don't do it to find acceptance from them anymore. I finally have learned that I can't get acceptance from others unless I learn how to accept myself. Do you know what a revelation that is?! It's huge. I know I'm a bit "fluffy" yet it doesn't make me less of a person than when I wasn't. I know I can be really sensitive, but it doesn't make me less of a person than when I am not.

Allowing who you are to be buried under what others think you should be ~ not only are you unable to be a TRUE and HONEST testimony for someone, you lose your own identity and ... special creative being that God spent time and energy creating you to be. You basically are putting yourself in a box that was not meant for you ~ or anyone else for that matter. There is not one person on this earth that can tell you how to live your life the way God intended ... except for God himself. This is why we should listen to our hearts, those areas that seem very tender to us are indeed the areas that God is calling us to work on, learn more about, and perhaps change as He leads.

For me, that area lately is indeed my marriage! I am all about learning how to be a better wife. Sure we will be married 18 years this coming May but .... I can tell you that each year gets better. When I spend time focusing on being a better wife, I become a better home maker, cook, and indeed I am healthier and happier. What's to lose?? So for me the first few months of this year will indeed be spent on bible studies that revolve around being a better me ~ in my marriage, and my day to day life. It really just all revolves around putting God first in every part of my life, with the focus on my marriage and my home.

Three books I am reading this month and into February are:

Wife After God: Drawing Closer to God & Your Husband - A 30 Day Marriage Devotional for Wives (Paperback) - Common : Jennifer Smith
Balancing It All: My Story of Juggling Priorities and Purpose: Candace Cameron Bure
Happy Wives Club: One Woman's Worldwide Search for the Secrets of a Great Marriage: Fawn Weaver

I want to do a give a way ~ the first of 2014, but not the last! In fact, I am considering doing one give a way a month! This month's giveaway will be the winner's choice of one of the three books listed above. Here are the few ways that you can enter------> a Rafflecopter giveaway
This giveaway starts today and ENDS next Sunday!



*This is NOT a sponsored giveaway, prize will be purchased and shipped by me.*

**UPDATE!!! Winner Announced! Annalisa Toole is the winner of this giveaway and she has chosen the Kindle version of "Balancing it All" by Candace Cameron Bure. Thank you to all who participated! A February giveaway will be coming soon! ** (Updated January 30, 2014)