I am sure you have heard the vintage saying “Pretty is as pretty does”, and I believe that is true, however, it would also be true to say, pretty is as pretty thinks, because everything we say or do begins with a thought. The Bible says “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he ” (Proverbs 23:7 Amplified). “Thoughts go to your heart and form your beliefs, your beliefs control your thoughts and actions.”
~Gary Smalley (Awesome Speaker and Author on Marriage and Family)
Gals, we have got to be careful with what we allow ourselves to think about! If we are constantly angry, discontented, or depressed, it will show up on our face, and unfavorable words will spill out of our mouth. Oh dear! Our negative emotions have a huge impact on us and those around us. It changes our heart and the way we see the world. Negative thinking can change our destiny.
- As water reflects a face, so a man’s heart reflects the man”. Proverbs 27:19
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“For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.” Matthew 12:34
We become like the people we hang around with.
What would you rather be….sweet-as-a-cupcake or icky like sour-milk? I pick the cupcake! Warm-hearted, gracious, and joyful women leave a sparkling trail of delight wherever they go. They are the gals who make everyone they meet feel special and valued. They are the ladies whose honorable influence makes a difference in the lives of others. She is beautifully irresistible. Everyone wants to know her secret. (Hey, where do I sign up? I want to join the Sweet-as-a- Cupcake-Club! )
Miss Cupcake’s secret? If you read God’s promises, spend time praising Him and count your blessings everyday, your joy will start showing!
“You will show me the path of life: in your presence is fullness of joy, at your right hand there are pleasures forevermore.” Psalm 16:11
“Enter into His gates with thanksgiving and a thank offering and into His courts with praise! Be thankful and say so to Him, bless and affectionately praise His name!” Psalm 100:4
One thing I’ve decided to do this year is to be more aware of God’s goodness and to develop a more grateful spirit. So I’ve put together a Thankful notebook. It’s not a new idea of course, but it’s new for me. In the last couple of months it has gloriously enriched my life and blessed me with fresh joy! Instead of looking at what is wrong, I intentionally look for what is right! And then I thank the good Lord above!
I bought a composition book at Wallmart and covered it with scrapbooking paper (inside the cover too) added a Target Cupcake sticker, polka-dot ribbon, and titled it Sugar Sprinkles From Heaven.
My Sub-Title: Looking for God’s sweet goodness. Everyday. On purpose.
He is whispering, I love you with a wink and a smile.
Italian cookies made by my mom (Esther)
and my Aunt Lucy, just like Grandma used to make.
Everyday God sprinkles His sweet goodness down from Heaven to us. It may come in the form of a breathtaking sunrise, or a phone call from a dearly missed loved one, or the discovery of a fabulous new book or lost keys found. These things are not happenstance. He knows what delights our heart and so He sends them on purpose, with a wink and a smile, as He whispers “My child, I love and adore you!”
This notebook is for me to record those sugar sprinkles from heaven, so I don’t miss out on the joy He sends me in the rush of life. So I may develop a blissfully thankful and contented heart. A heart that will delight in sharing the sweetness of the Lord Jesus with everyone I meet.
Some pages have scriptures, quotes and pictures…..
Other pages have handwritten thoughts and words of thanksgiving. I always add the date, and place. It sits next to my bed for when I have time to jot a few things in it. It has caused me to be on the look-out for those heaven-sent gifts of love that God sends me. His fingerprints are everywhere, we just need to open our pretty-long-lashed eyes to see them! It’s amazing how it has changed my perspective on life!
Poor Nellie, she had a “poor little-O’ me” attitude whenever things didn’t work out the way she wanted. I guess she didn’t learn the concept If you complain, you remain. Maybe she didn’t hear the story about the Israelites in Numbers 14, and how they grumbled , complained, wailed and whined to Moses and Aaron. They did not like their circumstance and were not willing to wait for God’s timing. They ignored miracle after miracle that God performed to show them He was taking care of them, providing food and protection as He lead them out of slavery. He had a glorious plan for their destiny. But because of their ungratefulness and lack of trust, they wandered in the desert for 40 years. A journey that should have only taken them 11 days! They missed the Promised-Land blessing. Oh, that is just plain pitiful I tell you!
Whenever I hear the story of the whiny Israelites I’ve been tempted to think; Oh for crying out loud, what was their problem! God parted the Red Sea and fed them Manna….gave them a cloud to follow during the day and a pillar of fire by night….all of their needs were met and they were free from slavery!! They needed to just snap out of their bad attitudes! But then….. I remember….. that I too, like the Israelites, and like Nellie pictured above, have been known to complain a time or two! (actually….way more than just a time or two!) Someone needs to tell Nellie about the promises of the Lord, where she will find joy unspeakable and full of glory! Amen sister!
Bessie Mae, on the other hand has learned to serve the Lord with Gladness (Psalm 100:2). Whenever she starts to get overwhelmed with all that she is depended on to do, why, she pulls herself up by her boot straps, cancels the Pity-Party, asks the Lord for strength, and don’t you just know, He gives her a sweet song in her heart! Yes ma’am, she has become a thankful, toe-tappin‘, sweet, hymn-singin‘ gal!
What a friend we have in Jesus
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer!
Oh what peace we often forfeit
Oh what needless pain we bear
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer.
Written by H. Bonar
Practice being the woman you want to be.
Hmmmm….sweet-as-a-cupcake….or…sour-milk?
Maggie is also a member of the Sweet-As-A-Cupcake Club. She has decided not to let circumstances or people rule her attitude. She’s made up her mind to put a cherry on top of each day, by honoring God in all she does….her thoughts…her actions…. and in her conversations. Every time she powders her nose and applies her Raspberry Sizzle lipstick, she knows her best cosmetic is to wear a radiant smile and speak words of kindness and thankfulness. She is on her way to enjoying her destiny as God leads her to the Promised-land, flowing with sweet milk and honey!
Gals, lets not miss out on our Promised-land destiny! We need to remember that blessings follow obedience. When we obey God’s Word (The Bible) as we enter His gates with thanksgiving, God will send showers of blessings!
Now, of course, we will have those “help me Jesus” days when we want to pull our hair out, or scream or both, but just take a deep breath, ask for God’s grace, sit down with a glass of ice water and gain your composure. Tell yourself this too shall pass. Forgive or ask for forgiveness and carry on. The great news is, God’s mercies are new every morning! So each day we have a fresh start! Keep sweet!
Fix your thoughts on what is true and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Phillippians 4:8
Living our life with the spirit of thankfulness…..
….think of the impact on our children!
Who wouldn’t want a mama that’s as sweet as a cupcake?
Like mama like child…let’s raise thankful kids!
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Thank you for stopping by for some Thankful Pie!
God bless you, sweet cupcake gals!
Hugs!
Miss Ruthann
(Gracious Southern Belle wanna be.)
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Mix dry ingredients until it looks like cornmeal with some little chunks of butter. The chunks of butter will melt as the pastry bakes and form little air pockets, which is what makes the pie crust flaky.
