Sunday, May 12, 2013

I'M MOVING !!!!

Months ago I thought I was going to have to move my family from Alabama to Atlanta, GA but God changed that plan (YEA!!).  However, it did get me to think about a move that I did need to make and today is finally my moving day.  The best part was I didn't have pack a thing.

Living in Harmony, the blog, is moving to www.amypboydspeaks.com.  Some of my friends have already found me there for a preview but I would love for each you join me there and as a little incentive I am running a giveaway on the new site.  Just click on over, have a look around and be sure to leave a comment at let me know what you, what you think needs to change and especially if something isn't working properly.  


LIVING IN HARMONY

Thursday, May 9, 2013

Comfort To Be A Comfort{Five-Minute Friday}


Five Minute FridayToday I am joining my friends and Lisa-Jo again for Five Minute Friday. If you’re new here (welcome!) the rules are simple: Write, don’t edit, link your post to her page, and then share the encouragement like wildfire. You can do that, I know you can.

The prompt this week is: Comfort

I remember crawling up in bed between my mom and dad as a little girl.  There was just something about about being snuggled up between them that gave me comfort.  Comfort to go back to sleep after a bad dream. Comfort to talk about anything and everything.  Comfort to just be.  Even as became a teenager and was to really to big to be crashing in their bed I still found my comfort there.  I remember a couple of nights before my wedding when the nerves and excitement were increasing I wanted so much to tap on their door one last time but I couldn't I was grown up.... I was to old to need mommy and daddy to comfort me, right ?  A few minutes later my daddy tapped on my door and asked if I wanted to talk.  I jumped out of my bed, rush past him and jumped in next to mom.  We talked for hours.  That time with my mom and dad was such a comfort as I walked into marriage.

Monday night as my baby girl got home from college I was in bed with a migraine and what did she do but crawl in right next to me and talked until we both fell asleep.  Then tonight my son stop by for a visit and snuggled up right next to me on the couch.  I hope that their dad and I have been as much of a comfort to them as my parent have been to me.  However, I pray even more that we that always pointed them to the One that is the Great Comforter that will be with them always.

Who has been there to comfort you ?  Who are you comforting ?


Amy

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Things that Go Bump {God-Sized Dreams}


Here is Holley's challenge for this week: take this “do what you can” step for your God-sized dream…Find a way to pay it forward. You’ve been encouraged in your God-sized dreams by your sisters here the last few months. How can you spread that encouragement forward by investing in other dreamers? It can be small and simple or BIG and wild. 

*****

The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. 
He will take great delight in you;in his love he will no longer rebuke you, 
but will rejoice over you with singing.”  

                                                                                                 Zephaniah 3:17

The quiet of the night was suddenly awakened with terrorizing cries.  I sat straight up in my
bed.  There was a moment of confusion before I sprinted down the hallway.  Reaching the doorway of my 5 year old’s bedroom I saw him in his bed, on all fours and turning in circles like a dog chasing his tail.  Not knowing what was happening I slowly approached him and quietly called his name.  

The screaming continued.  The ‘tail chasing’ continued.  I realized that even with all the chaos he was sound asleep. This went on for about five minutes and eventually he quieted down, covered back up and was the house was peaceful once again.  What had just happened?  Maybe it was a bad dream?  Maybe it was just something he had eaten?  These were the thoughts that went through my mind.  

     
However, when I knew there was something more when this scene played out night after night for a full week.  A couple of nights we found him in other rooms of the house.  As a worried momma I called his doctor, asked other moms and searched the internet.  All resources took to the same conclusion: night terrors.  There isn’t much we could do while they are happening except ensure he did not hurt himself.  Finally, after about 6-9 months he seemingly outgrew them.  
Now at 24 he has little to no memory, besides our stories, that those almost night episodes ever happened.  So many times as we slowly take steps to follow our God-Sized dreams we might find ourselves in a tizzy. We have our eyes wide open but unable to see what God is doing behind the scene. However, just as I watched over Anthony, He always has a watchful eye on us.  He is there to protect yet even though He may not save us from the ‘terror’ itself.  No, instead He allows us to fight through to grow and eventually leave it behind.  

Today God the Father is watching over you.  He is there to  encourage you, direct you and yes, even protect you from yourself sometimes.              Rest in that fact but then move forward.



What part of your dream has you in a tizzy?  
I would love to pray for God to give you comfort and direction.

Amy 


For more posts by God-sized dreamers, click on this button

Thursday, May 2, 2013

It's Not Easy Being Green {Five-Minute Friday}


Five Minute FridayToday I am joining my friends and Lisa-Jo again for Five Minute Friday. If you’re new here (welcome!) the rules are simple: Write, don’t edit, link your post to her page, and then share the encouragement like wildfire. You can do that, I know you can.

The prompt this week is: Brave

When I was younger, much younger, there was an album (yes I am that old) that I loved for my mom to play.    It had songs like:

Doing the Pegion by Bert and Ernie
I got 2 eyes by Cookie Monster
1-2-3-4 by The Count

But my very favorite was It's Not Easy Being Green by Kermit the Frog.  I think back then I just liked Kermit.  However, when I became a mother and decide to pull out the old album to play for my own little ones just for old times sake.  I begin to really hear the lyrics that my little green friend sang.  I loved the lesson that he was teaching.  Yes it isn't easy being green, looking different or being different in anyway. Kermit first acknowledged that yes things are not easy when you are different but there are are blessings in the differences.  He carries on about how those difference can be seen as and advantage.  By the end of the song Kermie has even decide that he is pretty proud to be green and different.

We all have our own version of being green.  You know the thing that makes is different? That thing that we think makes us stand out, and not in a good way?  What if we looked at ourselves and others with God's eyes.  If we just saw ourselves has He does.  What if we were brave and learned to be the best us He has called us to be?

So my friend be brave.....be green and proud of it today.