In and Out

It is ridiculous how long it has taken me to get up on this thing and jot a few things down. I've been sitting on some good thoughts (or at least I think they're gems...) but haven't had the "time" to do it. I think that should be a part of my new years resolution... to get on this thing a couple weeks a month to fill your head with craziness... haha!

Anyway, wanted to get this one out... so here it goes!

Been reading this fantastic mother's devotion called "Out of the Spin Cycle" by: Jen Hatmaker. I absolutely love the devotion, but more importantly... I've fallen in love with Jen's writing and her way of putting things. They are so down to earth it is refreshing. If you don't have a study to do, and want one, get it...

ANYWAY, one of the devotions is about good in and out. It's based on the Matthew verse that talks about the people that put in good, good comes out. But the people that put in evil, evil comes out. It's such a simple concept, but so easily looked over by us. What we put into our lives, is the very thing that comes out on our husbands, children, family, friends, and even those we don't really know. You gotta put good in to get out!!! Some things I thought about, that we can all look at to see if we're really putting in good these days:

1. Friendships. Who we spend most of our time and energy with are going to sway us. If we have good friends that help us, pray for us, and encourage us in our life.... that comes out in how we treat those friends and others. If we have friends that are negative and choose to do wrong things on a constant basis... that too will rub off on us, and we will become that (in a sense).

2. Music. I LOVE music.. I love pretty much all music. I'm one of those people that even listens to songs for a good running beat, or because they are fun. Mostly these days I've opted to listen K-Love. I love the songs, and it fills my head with good things.

3. TV. This is where I struggle the most. I'm a lover of CRAPPY shows. I love watching the drama unfold. It's hilarious. I'm better about it now (because I don't have much time to watch TV, if at all), but I still need to work on how I'm filling my head with such horrible stuff.

4. Time. Fill your time up with what these days? What we spend our time and money on the most, there our heart will be also.

Good in and good out. It's a simple message tied to so much to work on isn't it? You don't have to live in a box not exposed to the world and all that it has to offer. But, you do need to really take a think about what you're really putting in to see what is really coming out. When you're starting a diet again or looking at why those pants don't fit anymore the best thing someone can tell you is to write everything you eat down. What about doing that with your time and efforts. How are you spending that time? Where DID the day go?? Write it down and see if there is any fat that can be cut out of the diet to make more room for the good stuff.

Good in... Good Out

Bad in.... Bad Out