Tag Archives: Praise

Praising Correctly

Who knew paying your child a compliment could be so damaging? According to researchers in the Netherlands, all praise is not created equal.  In fact, you may even harm your kid if you don’t applaud him properly. Oh, the horror! Scientists at Utrecht University claim certain types of praise have the ability to sabotage self-esteem in children with fragile egos.  The researchers categorize effort-based praise as the good type of praise and personal praise as its evil twin. For example, if your child scores a touchdown during his school football game and you shout out:  “You are the most awesome … Continue reading →

Changing a Negative Pattern

If your marriage is going through problems and you are trying to change a negative pattern, the most important thing is not to give up too soon. You need what my Mom used to call stick-ability. In other words, sometimes you just need to persevere and stick at it. Trying to change a pattern or a habit requires time as well as effort. The main thing is not be come discouraged and give up if you don’t see instant results. When you first started going together, what things did you enjoy doing? These are the types of things you need … Continue reading →

Three More Ps in Marriage

Yep, I’m still in the Ps. Here is one positive P, one neutral depending on how you react, and one you definitely don’t want to have in your marriage. Praise Every single person responds to genuine praise. It not only makes a person feel good, it makes them more inclined to do more things that will earn them further praise. Just as good parents praise their children when they do something right, or pleasing and respond appropriately, so we need to praise our spouse. Praise them as often as you can for the thoughtful things they do, for helping out … Continue reading →

Detoxing Your Marriage

The other night, I watched Joel Osteen. He was talking about toxic thoughts. As he was speaking about the importance of detoxing your thoughts, something he said really struck me. Toxic Thoughts He was explaining how damaging bad thoughts can be. How they shut you down, stifle you, keep you stuck, and prevent you from living up to your full potential. Because bad thoughts are toxic ones and toxins build up over time, contaminating your mind, body, soul, and life. But by detoxing your thoughts, you can live a happier and more positive life and therefore a better one. But … Continue reading →

How God Calmed Fears

Any woman who has ever been for a mammogram, knows the feelings it arouses and the waiting on tenterhooks till the letter saying all is clear arrives. Imagine this. You open the letter and read you are being called back for further X rays and tests. Your heart misses a beat or two. Your eyes blur. You decide you must have read it wrongly. But the words stay stubbornly the same. Yet there is a sense in which you are not surprised at all. Even though you have no symptoms, discovered no lumps or changes, there is a feeing of … Continue reading →

Patterns of Prayer

My reservations regarding the 5 finger prayer pattern are it doesn’t incorporate two aspects that I consider essential. They are praise and confession. So I’d like to suggest another pattern for prayer – an ACTION prayer. This is: Adoration Confession Thanksgiving Intercession Outpouring Needs Adoration The first, and what to me should always be our starting point, is praise or adoration of God. We should praise God for who He is and for His unique qualities. Take time to really dwell on the fact that you are in the presence of Almighty God. Adore Him. We have only to think … Continue reading →

Not Taking Life For Granted, But Finding the Blessings

In Lauri’s media blog she talked of Anna Quindlen and ‘A Short Guide to a Happy Life’ and the importance of taking note of what is happening around you and how it is ‘a great reminder to not take life for granted, to notice those moments and even to purposely make room for them.’ Really, it’s all about noticing and finding the blessing of each day. This is by no means comprehensive but only a select few blessings I found to thank God for this week. 1. A week filled with music – from the hymns and spiritual songs in … Continue reading →

A Short Guide to a Happy Life – Anna Quindlen

A Short Guide to a Happy Life by Anna Quindlen really is short. It’s a small book, and only around fifty pages. Quindlen starts the book by stating that she’s not particularly qualified to give advice and counsel. She is after all a novelist and a columnist. But she does have some really good things to say. Quindlen talks about the “life of your heart” and says that people don’t talk much about the soul anymore, that it is “easier to write a resume than to craft a spirit.” She advises “Don’t ever confuse the two, your life and your … Continue reading →

This Is Why I Sing – part 2

Here is the second part of my list of praise points. I praise God for: Pansies and their happy faces coming out in our garden, also azaleas, primulas,and our first yellow daffodil is out. Human beings don’t ever seem to be able to produce that brilliant clear yellow God does in daffodils and wattle. Studying I John 3 with our Bible study home group I John 3 highlights the love of God and adoption into His family and the hope we have. It also teaches the importance of not continuing to practice sin but aiming to be increasingly holy in … Continue reading →

This Is Why I Sing – Part 1

Another end of a week and instead of a week in review I’m going to do another week of praise points. This is the first part. I praise God for: Dreams, hopes and aspirations. God’s wisdom in realizing I was unable because of illness to do a job I’d been asked to do and not trying to push myself to do the impossible. God’s enabling leading the music on Sunday and the great songs chosen which focused on what an Indescribable and awesome God we serve and that He is Holy but our sins are forgiven and we are washed … Continue reading →