Day 21: HOLD

Our Give-Away for Today!

Arm Around Shoulder / Hand Over Mouth: Ten loving lessons for mothers and daughters-in-law

"Open these pages and let your heart and your life be transformed by love!!! You will discover fresh-flowing love for the very special people God has placed in your life. More than that, you will experience amazing insights on the secret for pouring His love into the lives of others. Open your heart to hear God's voice as you turn these anointed pages!"

Glenna Salsbury

Author of The Art of The Fresh Start

"Mimi is a gutsy gal whose relationship skills were forged in the crucible of a sometimes harsh life. But God sent her an angel, a mother-in-law with a heart of gold and an abundance of grace. Through this woman, Mimi let God transform her own life. Today she has opened to us all the rich store of advice and examples she gained in the process.

Beautifully presented, this book is full of illustrations of the balance between loving those special in-laws God sends us and receiving grace with humility, then passing it on. Thank you, Mimi, for showing us that in-lawing can work to the glory of God."

Ethel Herr

Christian Writer and Speaker

Mimi Moseley’s favorite saying is, “It’s never too late to be who you were meant to be.” A scared childhood could have produced a troubled adult had God not intervened. Mimi has served in various aspects of ministering to women for over 25 years. She and her husband, Marty, live in Northern California. They have two sons, Marty III and Matthew; two amazing daughters-in-law, Rebecca and Anna; and two adorable grandchildren, Marty IV and Malea. 

Mimi communicates her calling to encourage conference and retreat attendees, as well as one-on-one counseling, to cultivate practical changes, which enhances good relationships and gives hope to those facing hopeless ones. 

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Ever find yourself in the the middle of an argument, wondering how did I get here?

And how can I get out?

As the dust settles, you try to re-play the whole thing start-to-finish and discover huge gaps in your memory…

...like what started it? 

Half of what you said?

For several days, now, I’ve been trying to triage what I will prudently refer to as “the sorbet incident.” 

Problem is, I have no idea what Daniel said that set me off.

I do know I got defensive. 

I do know I “explained” my reasons for doing what I did.

But I do not know why I made such a big deal out of it. The whole thing could have been handled in 3-4 sentences, sans emotion. 

I want to say it started when Daniel said something about the sorbet.

Truth is, it started when I reacted to whatever Daniel said about the sorbet.

When I failed to “hold my tongue.”

When I failed to practice what I preached one short week ago when I wrote, “a priceless gift can be mine for the cost of silence: trust.”

Hold One at a Time

When our first dog was a puppy, she loved carrying things around in her mouth. We’d take her on walks, and she’d pounce on the first stick she saw, get it in her mouth, and proudly walk along holding it high. 

But soon, she’d spy a different stick. One short moral quandary later, she’d drop the first stick and pick up the new one.

Then she’d see a pine cone. Same process. We joked that she was moving the entire world forward ten paces at a time!

Since she could only fit one thing in her mouth at a time, she faced forced alternatives: this stick or that pinecone?

I face the same choice. 

Every time I open my mouth. 

What will it be: my words or God’s words? 

Either / or.

(I long for the day when it’s not a forced alternative. When I am so fluent in God that my words are His words!)

Hold His Words

(Can't see image? Click here to download Proverbs 10:19!)

Yes, it’s important to learn to “hold my tongue.” 

But I know from experience that if that’s all I do–exercise self-control in my own strength–I will end up with inflated self-confidence and pride.

Far more important is for me to hold God’s Word in my heart so that I have ready replacements when my own words aren’t worth saying!

I’ve been pairing replacement Bible verses to my thoughtless “pet phrases” of complaining+:

For example, I want...

“Why on earth…” to trigger Romans 8:37: “No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours though Christ, who loved us.”

“How could I have…” to trigger Ephesians 2:10: “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago.”

“I can not believe that (s)he…” to trigger Luke 6:27-28: “Love your enemies, do good tot hose who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.”

Your “pet phrases” are no doubt different from mine. But the whole point of The PURSE-onality Challenge is to actively replace that “baditude” with God’s word.

Hold Me

One reason “the sorbet incident” disturbs me is that I can’t remember what “pet phrases” I used. 

Probably several old favorites that are eluding capture, and I want to “take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10:5)

But when “the sorbet incident” started, what I wanted even more was to (a) be right and (b) revive an old grudge. 

I was deaf to God’s word...even to remembering my own words!

This is disheartening. 

Yes, partly because I am facilitating The PURSE-onality Challenge and would love to share nothing but success after success after success!

But mostly because I’m so tired of living in the aftermath of not holding my tongue and not holding God’s word. 

Tired of not remembering what I said, but knowing it was all wrong.

Tired of feeling like all I am is one big “sorbet incident.”

Tired of feeling like nothing ever really changes.

Better late than never, I remember God’s words: “This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” (2 Corinthians 5:17)

Yes, I am learning to hold my tongue.

Yes, I am learning to hold God’s word in my heart.

Right now, I just need Him to hold me.

Try this today:  (1) Start a list of your “pet phrases” and begin pairing them with replacement Bible verses (2) Listen to or read the lyrics to “Hold Me Jesus” as a reminder that the only lasting change comes because He holds you.

(Can’t see the embedded video? Click here to view/listen to “Hold Me Jesus”)

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Please leave a comment 

• responding to today’s blog, and/or

• sharing your Day #1-21 experience of replacing “baditude” with God’s word and gratitude, and/or

• about anything else on your heart!

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(Catch up on any "Warm-Up Week" Blog Posts!)