Selected from Christine Caine Travel Blog http://www.equipandempower.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=107&Itemid=224
You are the only you there will ever be. God made you unique, special and one of a kind. It is so important that in Him we become the best us we could possibly be. So many spend their lives wishing they were someone else living another life in another place. The truth is, this is your one and only life and you should never squander it in the world of comparison.
Comparison is an extremely destructive thing. It leads to self depreciation, self rejection and depression. If you focus on what you are not, what you do not have, who you are not, then you devalue who God actually made you to be, and what He called you to do. We are each different and have different levels of responsibility and authority, but we are all equally valuable in the sight of God. Don't spend your life looking at others and defining yourself by what you are not, rather look to Christ and discover all that He has created you to be in Him.
We are one body composing many parts, and we need each and every part to effectively function. It is our distinction, not our sameness, that sets us apart, and this is something we should celebrate in one another. Paul teaches, "For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves, but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves are not wise." (1 Cor 10:12) It is unwise to compare your gifts, talents, accomplishments, ministry or call with that of someone else. We are here to please God and fulfill His purpose for our lives, not to impress people.
If we fall into the comparison trap then we lose sight of God and His purposes because we stop looking up and start looking across. Instead of focusing on God and reaching lost people, we begin to focus on each other and our measure no longer becomes the will of God, but the standard of others. It is a trap that we must determine to never be caught in.
It is great to be stirred and inspired by one another, but not to compete and compare with each other. Each of us has enough grace to run our race and no-one else's. You represent a part of the image of God, never again to be duplicated, so be the best you that you can be for His glory.
February 22, 2011
Waketime and Naptime
Notes from Babywise chapter 7
Two activities in your baby’s routine: waketime and naptime specifically with a child who is at least one week old.
One of the most common mistakes made when following a routine is to reverse the order of the last two activities- that is, putting the baby down for a nap right after his or her feeding.
You have to work on keeping your baby awake to take full feeding. (Rub her feet, stroke her face, change a diaper, talk to her, remover her sleeper, but she must eat)
Waketime activities include times when you and your baby will be together and the times when your baby will explore his or her new world alone.
Naptime:
Naps are not an option based on your baby’s wants. When naptime comes, the baby goes down. It is that simple. For optimal development, infants need daytime rest.
When settling for a nap, crying for 15-20 minutes is not going to hurt your baby physically or emotionally.
Newborn:
Newborns can sleep 16-20 hours per day, including periods of sleep between each feeding.
The sleep will come in the form of 6-8 naps (depending on daily feedings)
When your baby has been up for an appropriate duration, which maybe only a total of 45 minutes including feeding time, and shows some sings of fussiness, it is time for a nap.
Two Months:
Baby drops her nighttime feeding and begins sleeping 7-8 hours continuously.
Naps during the day should be at least 1 ½ hours long.
NOTE; it is not unusual for 2-3 month old baby to awaken around 5 or 530am and talk to themselves for up to an hour. Afterward, they usually go back to sleep for another hour or so. This quirky phase can go on for a week or a month and sometimes longer. If you start to respond each time you hear a noise from the cradle, then 5am will become your baby’s waketime- and yours too.
3-5 months
Nighttime sleep will avg 10-12 hours.
The baby will have 3 daytime naps between 1 ½ to 2 hours long.
6-16th month
Your baby will drop her late afternoon/early evening nap at around 6 months, leaving two naptimes-one in the morning and one in the afternoon.
The naps are usually 1 ½ to 2hours long.
16months and older
Between 16-20 months, the morning nap is dropped. Y
Your baby should be sleeping 10-12 hours at night and 2-3 hours during one afternoon nap.
For baby to wake up Happy follow these 3 rules:
1. Mom, not baby, decides when the nap starts
2. Mom, not baby, decides when the nap en
3. If your baby wakes up crying or cranky, it’s most likely because she hasn’t had sufficient sleep. Other factors to consider are dirty diapers, a noisy neighbor, sickness coming on, or an arm or leg stuck between crib slats.
Summary:
If your baby is waking up cranky or crying he or she most likely is not getting enough sleep. Even though she may cry, your baby will probably go right back to sleep in 10 minutes for another 30-40 minutes of rest. When your baby gets enough sleep, you will notice a happy disposition; the baby will make happy sounds, letting you know it’s time to get her up.
When your baby starts to sleep through the night, people will say “you’re so lucky” or “you got an easy baby.” Neither is true. Your baby is sleeping through the night because you trained her to do so. You can take credit for your success.
Two activities in your baby’s routine: waketime and naptime specifically with a child who is at least one week old.
One of the most common mistakes made when following a routine is to reverse the order of the last two activities- that is, putting the baby down for a nap right after his or her feeding.
You have to work on keeping your baby awake to take full feeding. (Rub her feet, stroke her face, change a diaper, talk to her, remover her sleeper, but she must eat)
Waketime activities include times when you and your baby will be together and the times when your baby will explore his or her new world alone.
Naptime:
Naps are not an option based on your baby’s wants. When naptime comes, the baby goes down. It is that simple. For optimal development, infants need daytime rest.
When settling for a nap, crying for 15-20 minutes is not going to hurt your baby physically or emotionally.
Newborn:
Newborns can sleep 16-20 hours per day, including periods of sleep between each feeding.
The sleep will come in the form of 6-8 naps (depending on daily feedings)
When your baby has been up for an appropriate duration, which maybe only a total of 45 minutes including feeding time, and shows some sings of fussiness, it is time for a nap.
Two Months:
Baby drops her nighttime feeding and begins sleeping 7-8 hours continuously.
Naps during the day should be at least 1 ½ hours long.
NOTE; it is not unusual for 2-3 month old baby to awaken around 5 or 530am and talk to themselves for up to an hour. Afterward, they usually go back to sleep for another hour or so. This quirky phase can go on for a week or a month and sometimes longer. If you start to respond each time you hear a noise from the cradle, then 5am will become your baby’s waketime- and yours too.
3-5 months
Nighttime sleep will avg 10-12 hours.
The baby will have 3 daytime naps between 1 ½ to 2 hours long.
6-16th month
Your baby will drop her late afternoon/early evening nap at around 6 months, leaving two naptimes-one in the morning and one in the afternoon.
The naps are usually 1 ½ to 2hours long.
16months and older
Between 16-20 months, the morning nap is dropped. Y
Your baby should be sleeping 10-12 hours at night and 2-3 hours during one afternoon nap.
For baby to wake up Happy follow these 3 rules:
1. Mom, not baby, decides when the nap starts
2. Mom, not baby, decides when the nap en
3. If your baby wakes up crying or cranky, it’s most likely because she hasn’t had sufficient sleep. Other factors to consider are dirty diapers, a noisy neighbor, sickness coming on, or an arm or leg stuck between crib slats.
If your baby is waking up cranky or crying he or she most likely is not getting enough sleep. Even though she may cry, your baby will probably go right back to sleep in 10 minutes for another 30-40 minutes of rest. When your baby gets enough sleep, you will notice a happy disposition; the baby will make happy sounds, letting you know it’s time to get her up.
When your baby starts to sleep through the night, people will say “you’re so lucky” or “you got an easy baby.” Neither is true. Your baby is sleeping through the night because you trained her to do so. You can take credit for your success.
ZzzzZzzz
I wish I could take naps or just lay down for some energy during work hours. Especially after eating around lunch time, all I want do is lay down and rest. I'm glad it stopped raining. The rain was making me even more sleepy. Sometimes when I get this tired, I wonder how and if I'm going to have enough energy for my baby and still be able to keep up with life. God help me.
February 21, 2011
Wait for it Patiently
Don’t ask God for patience; you might get pregnant. I’m joking. However, I never quite understood why so many pastors used pregnancy as an analogy for waiting on God and patience until I got pregnant myself. The first three months into it, I was already ready to quit and give up. I realized that there was not much I could do other than wait out the nine months for the baby’s delivery which gave me hope and strength for the different stages of pregnancy. I knew the promise would come and the vision of the promise is what helped me endure it all. I had to purposely watch my mouth and stop myself from complaining and instead start thanking God for such an awesome blessing. Even now, almost seven months pregnant, I want it to be already nine months. But I know if the baby came now she would be premature and so the nine months of waiting is needed and essential for a healthy baby. Likewise, in our lives there are seasons of “pregnancy” in which all we can do is wait it out patiently with a good attitude and keep our eyes on Jesus knowing that the promise will come. He is faithful to His word.
Reference below is adapted from the book Streams in the Desert, pgs 83, 84.
“Be still before the Lord, and wait patiently for Him. (Psalm 37:7)
Have you prayed and prayed, and waited and waited, and still you see no evidence of an answer?
Are you tired of seeing no movement?
Are you at the point of giving up?
Then perhaps you have not waited in the right way, which removes you from the right place- the place where the Lord can meet you.
“Wait for it patiently” Rom 8:25.
Patience eliminates worry.
Patience eliminates weeping. Why feel so sad and discouraged? He knows your needs better than you do, and His purpose in waiting is to receive more glory through it.
Patience eliminates self-works.
Patience eliminates all want.
Patience eliminates all weakness. Instead of thinking of waiting as being wasted time, realize that God is preparing His resources and strengthening you as well.
Patience yields worship.
Reference below is adapted from the book Streams in the Desert, pgs 83, 84.
“Be still before the Lord, and wait patiently for Him. (Psalm 37:7)
Have you prayed and prayed, and waited and waited, and still you see no evidence of an answer?
Are you tired of seeing no movement?
Are you at the point of giving up?
Then perhaps you have not waited in the right way, which removes you from the right place- the place where the Lord can meet you.
“Wait for it patiently” Rom 8:25.
Patience eliminates worry.
Patience eliminates weeping. Why feel so sad and discouraged? He knows your needs better than you do, and His purpose in waiting is to receive more glory through it.
Patience eliminates self-works.
Patience eliminates all want.
Patience eliminates all weakness. Instead of thinking of waiting as being wasted time, realize that God is preparing His resources and strengthening you as well.
Patience yields worship.
Love Will Cost You Something
Jennifer Lopez was wrong about Love Don’t Cost a Thing. Love will cost you something. Love will cost you your stubbornness, pride, tendency to always want to be right, our ways of doing things and the demands we set on our spouse. Love requires lots of effort, deliberate acts of kindness, and always going the extra mile. It will sometimes cost a change of lifestyle and bad habits.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
It is not rude, it is not self–seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails.- 1 Corinthians 13:4-8
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
It is not rude, it is not self–seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails.- 1 Corinthians 13:4-8
February 18, 2011
Pregnancy: Loved It or Hated It?
Hmmm I hated the first three months. I was getting irritated by well meaning people telling me to enjoy my pregnancy when I felt like crap. But I know, what else do you say to a pregnant woman when she's nagging and complaining about everything? You just smile and say "I know it must be hard," and only share your similar experiences because we don't want to think what the heck is wrong with us that we're not all excited and upbeat about it. I was killing myself to enjoy it in the midst of mood swings, crankiness, nausea, crying spells and feeling blue. Hate feeling tired and not being able to move as speedily and easily as before. Second trimester was much better. Now in the third trimester, I am lacking energy but it's still so much better than the first one. However, it is getting every difficult to put on clothes, shoes, socks and bending over to pick up stuff. They say by the last month I will be so ready to get the baby out but you know what, I feel that way already close to 7th month. Yes, it's all worth it. Whoever sails through pregnancy should count themselves very fortunate but the rest of us who aren't really having a ball; please..it sucks...especially if you're used to looking hot and working out like crazy and all of a sudden everything is getting big and you have no control over anything and you can't go on the ab roller! One adivse I took is "whenever you don't feel like yourself and you feel like you can't do this anymore just blame it on hormones & remind yourself 'it's because I'm pregnant and it's only going to last for 9 months.'" Another one was to purposely do things that you normaly did before for enjoyment: Nails, hair, and yes you can have one cup of coffee a day & surround yourself with loved ones even when everything and everyone is getting on your nerves. Do it on purpose! I wish all my girlfriends a happy pregnancy but if you get stuck and feel like ripping someone's head off; cheer up, it's totally normal with hormones all gone wild! You are not alone=)
Babies and Sleep
Notes from Babywise chapter 3.
Three basic activities: feeding, waketime and naptime, repeat themselves in rhythmic cycles. Routine leads to consistency, consistency leads to stabilization of each activity. As a result, the whole family is blessed by the order brought to the baby’s day.
For better or worse, parents are the greatest influence on a child’s ability to sleep. Expecting babies and young children to sleep through the night is very realistic.
Healthy, full-term babies typically are born with the capacity to achieve 7-8 hours of continuous nighttime sleep between seven to nine weeks.
In the early months, an infant spends most of his or her time sleeping.
While sleep ranges from relaxed state to fitful rest, the awake ranges from tiredness to optimal alertness.
Infants, pre-toddlers, and toddlers who suffer from the lack of healthy naps and continuous nighttime sleep may experience fatigue. Fatigue is primary the cause of fussiness, daytime irritability, crankiness, discontentment, hypertension, poor focusing skills and poor eating habits.
In contrast, children who have healthy sleeping patterns are optimally alert to interact with their environment. These children are self assured and happy, less demanding and more sociable. They have longer attention spans and as a result become faster learners.
The typical infant has both the natural ability and the capacity to sleep through the night sometime with the first nine weeks of life. It is an acquired skill which is enhanced by routine.
Since sleep is a natural function of the body, the primary cue for infant sleep is sleepiness.
You should not use these three things to put your baby to sleep because baby will become dependent on it.
1. Intentionally nursing a baby to sleep
2. Rocking a baby to sleep or taking baby for a car ride
3. Sleeping with your baby (shared sleep)
Put your baby to sleep while you are both awake. This way baby will establish longer and stronger sleep cycles then if placed in the crib already asleep.
Feed your baby, rock her and love her, but put her down before she falls asleep.
Three basic activities: feeding, waketime and naptime, repeat themselves in rhythmic cycles. Routine leads to consistency, consistency leads to stabilization of each activity. As a result, the whole family is blessed by the order brought to the baby’s day.
For better or worse, parents are the greatest influence on a child’s ability to sleep. Expecting babies and young children to sleep through the night is very realistic.
Healthy, full-term babies typically are born with the capacity to achieve 7-8 hours of continuous nighttime sleep between seven to nine weeks.
In the early months, an infant spends most of his or her time sleeping.
While sleep ranges from relaxed state to fitful rest, the awake ranges from tiredness to optimal alertness.
Infants, pre-toddlers, and toddlers who suffer from the lack of healthy naps and continuous nighttime sleep may experience fatigue. Fatigue is primary the cause of fussiness, daytime irritability, crankiness, discontentment, hypertension, poor focusing skills and poor eating habits.
In contrast, children who have healthy sleeping patterns are optimally alert to interact with their environment. These children are self assured and happy, less demanding and more sociable. They have longer attention spans and as a result become faster learners.
The typical infant has both the natural ability and the capacity to sleep through the night sometime with the first nine weeks of life. It is an acquired skill which is enhanced by routine.
Since sleep is a natural function of the body, the primary cue for infant sleep is sleepiness.
You should not use these three things to put your baby to sleep because baby will become dependent on it.
1. Intentionally nursing a baby to sleep
2. Rocking a baby to sleep or taking baby for a car ride
3. Sleeping with your baby (shared sleep)
Put your baby to sleep while you are both awake. This way baby will establish longer and stronger sleep cycles then if placed in the crib already asleep.
Feed your baby, rock her and love her, but put her down before she falls asleep.
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