De-cluttering....

I would classify myself as a pretty good housekeeper. I enjoy a clean house and clutter stresses me out. There are times, naturally, when my house is cleaner than other times, and it usually isn't "picture perfect", but for the most part it is clean and clutter-free.

That is.....except for1 room (okay...so there's a "catch-all" corner in my bedroom too, but we won't talk about that). I think everyone has a room or a drawer or a counter that is THE "place" were things just naturally gather. Sometimes, it seems as if the clutter grows by magic! My "place" is my office/craft room. It seems that I can NEVER keep that room clean! Just 2 weeks ago I had it completely clean and everything in its place. Today, it looks as if a bomb went off! It the one room where I "drop" things thinking I will put them away later and "later" becomes a month or two "later". And, being that it is not only my office, but also my craft room, naturally I have a project or 2 laying around, and Olivia (the notorious mess-maker in our house) loves to "craft" too. Only....she doesn't enjoy cleaning UP after her crafting! The mess in this particular room really bothers me! Being that I work from home, it is the room where I spend the majority of my time. It would seem that since I spend so much time there, I would be able to keep a handle on the clutter!

Looking at the clutter this morning, I got to thinking about the "clutter" that oftentimes fills our hearts and minds. Those things that we need to "put away"; the bad memories from our past. The things that we need to "throw away"; the unforgiveness and bitterness that can creep in. The things we need to "give away" to Jesus; our hurts, cares, and concerns.

I think my heart is like my home.....usually clutter-free, but there is 1 "room" that is cluttered. From time-to-time I de-clutter that room in my heart, but it seems that the "clutter" of worry, frustration, hurt feelings, bad memories, etc. have a way of creeping back in. Instead of allowing that small room in my heart to remain cluttered, I need to make it a habit to daily give it to Jesus for as it says in Hebrews 4:15 "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin." Jesus understands our weaknesses and He wants us to give these things to Him.

I plan to work on the clutter this week, not only in my office, but also in my heart.

Pickles Giggles

LOL!!! Add a daughter and 2 more dogs, and take away the cat, and this is my house whenever I cook bacon! (Not to mention, Scott and I don't have that many gray hairs yet.) :)

Allow a mom to brag....

Today in school, Travis and Olivia had an assignment to write a paragraph telling why their mom and dad were the best parents in the world.

This is Travis’s:

“My Mom is a great mom. She’s caring, loving, and most importantly, she gives great advice. Although I don’t like everything she makes, she is still a good cook. My Dad also is a great dad! He can fix almost anything, and he knows a lot more about computers than I do!”

Here’s Olivia’s:

“My Mom and Dad are the best. I will make a list of things that make Mom the best mom and what makes Dad the best dad. Mom: 1. She works hard so we can have money. 2. She loves her family. 3. She loves God. 4. She cooks food for us. Dad: 1. He does the laundry for mom. 2. He loves his family. 3. He loves God. 4. He is a hard worker, and can fix anything.”

It does a mom's heart good to hear these kinds of things from their kids. It gives me a glimpse into the hearts of my children. The part in Travis's about my cooking is humorous because he is such a picky eater! :) It is so wonderful to know that Olivia mentioned our love of God. Thank you God that they can see You in us!

I recently had a conversation with someone who is totally against the idea of homeschooling and thinks my kids would be better off in public school. Though homeschooling is not for everyone, neither is public school, and I know that my children are thriving at home whereas they would be languishing in a public school setting.

These types of assignments are like gold, they are precious and very valuable. It makes all the work, stress, and frustration that goes along with homeschooling worth every minute and makes the inevitably hard times fade from memory.

The joy that comes from seeing them learn, and being there the moment that a challenging math concept finally "clicks". To watch them mature in their thought patterns, and to receive back writing assignments like the ones I got today makes me ask the question: Why on earth would I ever put them in public school and risk missing out on moments like these?

The words DO hurt.

Boy is this comic ever true!

I have had cruel words spoken to me and about me, as I'm sure most everyone has, and they cut me to my heart, and I will never forget them. It would have been easier to be physically hurt than the hurt that those words have caused. A broken bone will heal, but careless hurtful words are not soon, if ever, forgotten.

The Bible has a lot to say about the tongue.

Proverbs 10:19
When words are many, sin is not absent,
but he who holds his tongue is wise.

Proverbs 11:12
A man who lacks judgment derides his neighbor,
but a man of understanding holds his tongue.

Proverbs 12: 18 & 19
Reckless words pierce like a sword,
but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
Truthful lips endure forever,
but a lying tongue lasts only a moment.

Proverbs 21:23
He who guards his mouth and his tongue
keeps himself from calamity.

James 1:26
If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.

James 3: 5-8
Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. ⁶ The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. ⁷ All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, ⁸ but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

I Peter 3:10
"Whoever would love life
and see good days
must keep his tongue from evil
and his lips from deceitful speech.

These are just a small sampling of what the Bible has to say about that smallest of offending organs in our body.

At Revive our Hearts they have a series about the tongue called "The Power of Words". I would encourage everyone to listen to this series to learn what God says about the tongue, how it can be used for good or for evil, how it can give life or bring death, and how our words have the power to heal or the power to hurt. I've been blessed by these broadcasts, and I'm sure you will be too.

If something good could come from the experience I've had with how words can be evil, kill my spirit, and hurt immensely, it is that I've learned it is better to keep silent than say a careless word; because sometimes, without even realizing it, you can hurt someone with carelessly spoken words. The old adage "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all" are WORDS to live by!

The Incomparable Christ

Today starts the beginning of Lenten season, the 40 days leading up to Easter.

On Revive our hearts, they are doing a special series during the next 40 days on Jesus.

They will be using the book "The Incomparable Christ" by J. Oswald Sanders, and Nancy Leigh Demoss with lead the study as they talk about:

*The person of Christ - His birth, childhood, life, and nature.

*The works of Christ - The trial of Christ, and the atoning work of Christ on the cross.

*The seven words of Christ - The last seven words that Christ spoke as he hung on the cross.

I am excited to spend the next 40 days learning more about Christ! I invite you to tune in to the broadcasts and grow in Jesus.

Fair Oaks Dairy Farm Adventure

Today, the family and I plus the homeschool group went to Fair Oaks Dairy Farm in Fair Oaks, IN for a field trip. It is one of the largest dairy farms in the United States. It is a 20,000 acre farm (or farms to be more exact) that milk 32,000 cows 3 times a day at 9 different locations!

Inside the lobby of the visitors center.

These were the buses that took us on our 45 minute tour of the farm.

Calf hutches. The babies are moved to these outdoor hutches within a matter of a couple of days after they are born. One of the most exciting parts of the day was being able to witness a birth of a calf. They have a special "observation" building that was like an arena with stadium seating. They had 2 cows that were in labor behind glass. Outside the building they had a stoplight and when the stoplight was red, it meant that neither of the cows were close to delivering, yellow meant the cow was almost ready to deliver, and green meant that a birth was in progress. When we entered the birthing barn, everyone was warned to be very quiet and not to move around much because the cows could see us through the glass and it made them nervous. Within about 15 minutes of sitting down, one of the cows gave birth. It was very interesting, and not as messy as I expected it to be. She had a boy! :)
Milking carousel. They milk 77 cows at a time on this moving circular "conveyor belt". They milk 3,000 cows at this particular location. I was fascinated by how the cows are such creatures of habit and will move onto and off of the carousel without any prompting from the men who work the milking machines.
On the bus tour. These buildings are the dry milk barn, where the cows who are pregnant and taking a break from milking for a few months until their new calf is born are kept, the maternity ward, where cows who are giving birth, and about to give birth are kept, and also the cow barn where the cows that are being milked are kept. Also, the 4 large tower-like things is a system they have where they recycle the manure into usable methane gas for energy (the electricity it produces runs the farm), and the manure solids are processed into a "top soil" type product that they spread on the fields for fertilizer.

More cow barns.

The last pictures are part of the interactive program they had inside the visitor center/museum.


At the end of the 3 hour adventure, I came away with a lot of mixed emotions. I told Scott on the ride home that it was very interesting, but that I felt a little sad because it seemed just like a factory to me. "Assembly-line" production.

The cows are in no way mistreated. They were very healthy, they were well fed, not mistreated in any way....yet, I feel sorry for them. From the moment they are born, they are treated almost as a piece of equipment. They are born, and the mom immediately begins to lick them and clean them out of instinct, as God intended them to do. But instead of being able to bond with their mother's and nurse, they are immediately taken away. The colostrum that the mother produces for their calf to build immunity is pumped out and the calf is fed it by bottle. If the calf happens to be a boy, they have no use for it, and it is sold off within 2 days of birth. (Probably to become veal as one of the tour guides told me.) If it is a girl, it is shipped out of state (to Colorado) to growing farms (I think that's what they are called) until they are 2 years old. Then they are shipped back to Fair Oaks, already 7 months pregnant. Then, the cows give birth to a calf a year for the next 8 years, with only 3 months of "rest" from milking. When they are 8 years old, they are then sold to be made into hamburger for the fast food industry.

As I said, they are well cared for...but, what kind of life do they have? A short life. A life of barns and concrete, and traveling cross country on semi trucks or trains, and never getting to spend time grazing or walking in grass. It seems sad to me.

I understand the need for producing a lot of milk to feed the people of this country, but my soft heart was really saddened. It especially struck me after I witnessed the calves birth and saw the mother, who had worked so hard to deliver her baby, turn and start to lick him; and realize that as soon as the baby was on its feet it would be taken away from her.....and made into veal cutlets. I know that animals do not have the same emotions as humans do about their offspring, and within a matter of days she will forget all about him, but it is still a difficult thing for me to accept. It's just not natural!

All in all, it really was a nice place to visit, and I would highly recommend it. But, if you have a soft spot in your heart for animals, as I do, you may come away a little sad.

God's Sovereignty

Thanks you Pastor Rob for this AWESOME message on the Lies of the Enemy and God's Sovereignty!

I would encourage everyone to listen to this message here. It is a true encouragement!

News from the animal front

All Things Bright and Beautiful

By Cecil F. Alexander

All things bright and beautiful,

All creatures great and small,

All things wise and wonderful:

The Lord God made them all.

Each little flower that opens,

Each little bird that sings,

He made their glowing colors,

He made their tiny wings.

This is just a small portion of the poem or hymn written by Cecil F. Alexander. You can read the entire poem here.

I have quite a menagerie at my house. I grew up around animals and have had a pet of one form or another as far back as I can remember. I just love animals.

I have a bit of news concerning a couple of my pets. Firstly, a bit of sad news. My parakeet, Bluey died today. She was very old, at least 10 years, if not a little older. That is pretty old for a Parakeet!

This is a picture of Bluey and her mate Spock. Bluey is on the left and Spock is on the right. (Kind of obvious because of her name. LOL) It is a comfort to know that she died of old age and not of some disease or from neglect.

Bluey had quite a life, and the word that would best describe her is "fighter". She and Spock were given to me around 7-8 years ago. I'm not sure how old they were when we got them. They lived happily in our dining room for around 5 years. Then, in 2007 we finally finished our basement, and I moved their cage to the family room downstairs. All the time they were upstairs, she never laid an egg, but within a couple of months of moving them downstairs, she laid 2 eggs and successfully hatched them on the floor of her cage....I was surprised to say the least!

At the time of her first clutch of eggs she was at least 6 years old, that is advanced maternal age for a budgie!

A few months later, she laid 7 more eggs, 5 of which hatched (this time in a nest box). She was an excellent mother, and she became a "single mother" when the chicks were around 2 weeks old. Spock literally worked himself to death caring for Bluey and the chicks.

With the addition of so many birds (now a total of 9) Scott built me an aviary.

A year of so after Bluey was in the aviary, I notice that one of her legs was swollen and she wasn't putting any weight on it. I just figured she had gotten it caught in the wire on the aviary and had sprained it. I watched her closely for several days, and then she started putting her weight on it again, so I thought all was well. I did notice, however, that the swelling was still there.

A few months later, I noticed that same leg was bleeding, so I took her out of the aviary and put her in a hospital cage. The leg looked really bad. I medicated her as best as I could. I cleaned the leg, and administered antibiotics. She didn't seem to be suffering at all. I kept her in the hospital cage for several weeks, but the leg just wasn't getting any better, in fact it was getting much worse, but Bluey didn't seem to mind at all! She was eating good, and was quite cheerful. One morning I went to check on her, and her bad leg was GONE! What I eventually figured out was, the swelling was actually a tumor, and Bluey "self-amputated" her leg. She literally pecked the skin off all the way around just above the tumor. So now I had a "peg-legged" parakeet. After a few more weeks, when her stump was completely healed, I put her back in the aviary with the other birds. She lived a normal, happy, parakeet life with the flock. She learned to balance on her stump when she was eating, and she perched with one foot.

About a year ago, she started having more problems. She was losing strength in her remaining leg. During the day when she was awake she was fine, but at night when she fell asleep, she would literally fall off of her perch to the bottom of the aviary. So, I set up a "retirement" home for aging parakeets in a separate cage. She had food and water within easy reach, and she had a special perch that she could rest her entire breast on to relieve the strain on her weakened leg. Her cage was right next to the aviary, and it was so sweet, the other parakeets would fly down and hang on the side of the aviary to visit Bluey every day.

Friday afternoon I was working and Olivia came in and said "Mom, Bluey's on the bottom of the cage, and her feathers are all fluffed out." That is NEVER a good sign in birds, and I knew her days were few. Today, while we were at church, she died.

I will miss her....

Now for a bit of news that's a little more humorous. Our third dog, Pepper, has not yet been spayed. We got her when she was a year old, and her previous owner had not spayed her when she was a puppy. We've been planning on getting her spayed, but as with everything else, we had to wait until we had the money. Well, finally last week we decided we were in the position financially to get her spayed, so on Wednesday, Scott called and set up an appointment. Well, guess what? Wednesday night......she went into heat! So, now we have to wait for 3 weeks until she is out of heat to have her spayed.

Since she sleeps in our bed at night, we have to put a diaper on her, for obvious reasons. They actually sell doggy diapers for this very purpose, but in our small town none of the stores carry them. So, we bought some size 1 baby diapers and cut a hole in the back for her tail!

The only problem is, because she is such a slender dog, she has no hips to speak of, and she is such a smooth haired dog, the diapers kept sliding off. So, my very ingenious husband figured out a way to make doggy suspenders using mitten clips and elastic attached to her harness. It works really well too! So the following few pictures are of Pepper sporting the latest fashion of diaper suspenders.

She actually really hates them, and refuses to walk when she has it on, so I wait until just before bedtime to put them on her. She's very patient though, and doesn't fight me when I'm getting her rigged out.

Hoodie Giveaway

Wild Olive Tees is hosting a hoodie giveaway. A group of moms who love the Word of God using a unique way to "proclaim his name".

His compassions never fail.

It is a very trying experience to have continuous pain. I suffer in some way just about every day. Most recently it is ulcer-type pains (gastritis) in my stomach. It is one of the things that bothers me from time-to-time. I do not know what causes this pain, and I do not know how long it will last. I am confident, however, that eventually it will subside. Until then, I am trying not to despair, and I am trying to stay focused on the truths in God's Word.

My devotional this morning was entitled "Remembering that God is Faithful", and the verse that it focused on was:

Lamentations 3:19-23

¹⁹ I remember my affliction and my wandering,

the bitterness and the gall.

²⁰ I well remember them,

and my soul is downcast within me.

²¹ Yet this I call to mind

and therefore I have hope:

²² Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed,

for his compassions never fail.

²³ They are new every morning;

great is your faithfulness.

I believe that God's Word has the answers for any situation, and I believe that there are no coincidences with God. It was not a coincidence that my devotional was a reminder of God's faithfulness, right when I needed the reminder!

"The truth of the matter is that all we have to do is live long enough, and we will suffer." Quote from a book I am reading called "How Long O Lord?" by D.A. Carson

It is not an easy thing to accept that in this life there will be suffering, but it is such a comfort to know that God is compassionate and faithful, and will see me through my suffering. It is also a comfort to know that this life is but a speck in time in comparison to eternity. When I get to heaven to spend eternity, there will be no more suffering or pain.

Pickles versus life

I found this comic at gocomics.com. I had never heard of it before, but I am really beginning to love it. It gives me a chuckle every day when I read it! I also find if humorous how it seems to mirror my life. Does this mean that Scott and I are an "old married couple" already? LOL

This one caught my eye in particular because of the reference to almond milk. With my dairy allergy, almond milk is a particular favorite of mine. I think you should try some too!

Pickles

One of the joys of working from home is that there are some days I stay in my PJ's all day! Also, I have been known to walk to the mailbox in my robe...but we live in the country so chances are good that nobody would see my anyway! :)

February Frolics

February is a busy month for us.

1.) February 12th is Scott and my Wedding Anniversary. This year we celebrated our 17th Anniversary. We don't ordinarily do a whole lot for our Anniversary. The weather in February is usually bad and we never have much money for a babysitter, etc., so most years we just stay home.

This year, however, we decided to go out. The kids are old enough to be home for a few hours alone. We went to South Bend to Shipshewana on the Road. It was a fun time. I had never been before, but have always wanted to go and since it fell on our Anniversary this year, it seemed the perfect opportunity. I told Scott that it must be a sign of my maturity (or my age) however you want to look at it, that I strolled through all those booths and didn't find anything I wanted to buy!

After that, we went to Target and Kohl's and the Christian Bookstore. I think Kohl's is my new "favorite store". They have TONS of clothes and most of them are on sale! Even up to 80% off! I got myself a pair of dress pants and 2 nice tops! Then we ate dinner at Chick-fil-A. We got some take-out at McDonalds for the kids, so I wouldn't have to cook supper. It was a very nice day! It had been a very long time since Scott and I had spent the day together alone, and it was nice!

I told Scott that for our 20th Wedding Anniversary, I want to take a trip...just the 2 of us. Just for a couple of days. Travis will be 16 and Olivia 14. They will be old enough to be alone for a night or 2, but I wouldn't feel comfortable with them alone for longer than that! I'm thinking about having Scott plan the whole trip, and surprise me!

2.) Valentine's Day: Because our Anniversary is 2 days before Valentine's Day we have always just combined the 2 events, so our day out was also my Valentine's gift.

3.) The 18th is Travis's birthday! This year he turned 13!!! I still can't believe I have a teenager in the house!

I think I still have few more years of my "little boy" though. He still wanted a theme this year (he picked Sonic the Hedgehog). And he still wanted toys for presents. I'm glad, because I think he is growing up too quickly as it is!

We didn't really have a "party" per se', but he did want to have a couple of friends over to help celebrate his becoming a "teenager." Of course his sister Olivia was there.

And his cousin who lives next door, Curtis. Curtis is going through the "don't take my picture!" stage.
And his best friend from church, Emily Feece was also there.

For Christmas a friend gave me a calendar that has a different Bible verse for each day. I think it is very appropriate that on this day the verse was:

Psalm 37:23-24

" The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord

and he delighteth in his way.

Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down

for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand."

That is my prayer for Travis. That he will grow up to be a good man that delights in the things of the Lord, and that he will know that he is held in the hand of the Lord.

The rest of the month will be fairly quiet. But that's a good thing because March brings Scott's birthday, April brings my birthday and Easter, and May brings Olivia's birthday! So the next few months will be extra special in our house!

Pickles

Technology Madness

I found this comic to be especially funny! And so true!

I have a love/hate relationship with technology.

I hate talking on the phone, so naturally I love e-mail.

I hate that my children spend so much time either on the computer or playing their DS, but I love the moments of quiet that it brings when they are occupied with things they enjoy. I have recently had to put some tight restrictions on the use of their DS's. I think it is a pretty good sign that they were abusing the privilege when I have to call them 3-4 times before they would look up from the game; and chores, playing outside, and even playing with friends began to take a "back seat" to their games!

I have been dragged kicking and screaming into the technological age. Several years ago, when it first began the "norm" for most households to have a personal computer, I thought it was ridiculous...."why? I have a typewriter, we don't need a computer!" When my husband finally got a computer (this was before internet), I have to admit, I did find it more convenient than a typewriter or writing letters by hand.

When Scott started making "noise" about getting internet, I thought... "We have a telephone! There is no reason why we need the internet!" Who knew that years later, my children would be enrolled in an online school, or that I would take a college course entirely through the internet, and now have a job working from home that is entirely done through the internet! I have never even personally met my boss!

A couple of years ago, my sister told me I should open a Facebook account. I thought..."Why? I have no interest in that type of thing!" Who knew that through Facebook I have reconnected with friends I haven't seen in years, and am able to keep up with them almost on a daily basis!

Through the internet I am able to research topics to enrich my children's homeschooling. I am able to listen to radio programs such as Revive Our Hearts, or classical music from countries across the ocean. I am also able to have my heart and soul uplifted through amazing sermons online.

I still think that there is a time and place for technology, and that it needs to be kept in perspective. Like everything in life, it should be used in moderation, and with care.

I still have my aversions to too much technology. I just recently got a cell phone, to be used only when I am going somewhere...in case of emergency. And, I have no interest in learning how to text! But..... *sigh* OK....I have to admit......technology isn't such a bad thing after all!

Happy Valentine's Day

For Better or For Worse

(click on the comic to enlarge it)

Seventeen years ago today Scott and I were married. When we said our vows we meant them... For Better or For Worse! Thankfully, there has been more better times than worse and more health than sickness. We have never been rich in the monetary sense, but richer than kings in our love and commitment for each other and to God.

It's been a great 17 years, and I look forward to the next 17!

Garfield Grins

This would definitely be Scott's thoughts as well! LOL

Lenten Season

I've always thought of things like Advent and Lenten as Catholic traditions, but I've recently discovered that many protestants celebrate these things as well.

A couple of years ago, I bought the kids these disposable Advent Calendars that had a piece of chocolate under each window for the 24 days leading up to Christmas. They had so much fun with those that I did it again this year. I couldn't find the ready-made calendars in the store, so I made them myself. We made it a part of our daily devotions time, and it was really wonderful. Before next Christmas, I plan to make an Advent Calendar that can be used over and over. I got this idea from a friend, and am planning to make one. Or I may make this one.

I was listening to Revive Our Hearts radio program yesterday, and the hostess Nancy Leigh DeMoss mentioned that they will be celebrating the Lenten Season with special programming starting the first day of Lent (March 9th) and running until Easter. They will be going through the book The Incomparable Christ by Oswald Sanders, and will follow the themes covered in that book. I am planning to get the book and listen each day as they go through it. I also got to thinking Lenten Season would be a nice thing to incorporate into our homeschooling, as I did with Advent. So, for the next couple of weeks I will be gathering information and ideas to do with the kids during this special time. If any of you have any ideas, please leave them in the comment section. I can use all the help I can get!

Christmas is a wonderful time of year, and rightly so as we celebrate the birth of Jesus, but I think Easter (though it doesn't get as much "commercial" recognition) is even more important. It is the time that we remember Jesus' purpose. We remember WHY the "babe in the manger" left the perfection of heaven and came to this sinful earth. Why he took the form of a frail human. It was to die for sinners like me, who was given forgiveness when I don't deserve it. THAT is something we should remember, not only at Easter, but every day!

Gratitude for Grace

"Thank You, dear Lord, for the beautiful way You teach us. Thank You for Your patience when we fail. Thank You for Your understanding in the midst of all our own confusion. Thank You for reaching down to us when we would never have reached up to You. Thank You for stopping us when we were running in the wrong direction, for setting the hounds of heaven after us. Thank You especially for Your grace. For by grace we have been saved through faith; and that not of ourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. What a great reminder." *Charles Swindoll*

I have been reading my daily devotions from Insight for Living by Charles Swindoll. The above quote was taken from today's devotional called Gratitude for Grace. The part that stood out to me most was God's patience when we fail. I'm so grateful for that because at times it seems I fail more than I succeed. Thank you God for Grace, and for Forgiveness!

Garfield Grins

I always love a good dream! :)

Taking the Power Back

Back in June of 2010 I had an incident where a couple of people (non-Christians) said some things about me that were very hurtful and untrue. I have been carrying this around all this time, allowing it to cause depression.

Today in church the pastor was talking about when people wrong you, and what your response to it should be. He said that when someone says things bad about you (bully you), even though it hurts, you should think of it this way:
1.) Their words and actions are really showing me how truly sinful, lost, and apart from God they really are.
2.) That person is not God....they don't know you the way God does. They do not have the power of God, unless you allow what was said to affect you in such a way that would cause you to sin, or if you allow it to cause you to go into depression. If you do that, then you are giving them power.

That really hit home with me. That is exactly what I have been doing. I was allowing them to continue to have power over me. I am taking the power back, and giving it to God who really knows me.

If you love God and try to live according to His Word there will be persecution, but the eternal reward will be worth it if you continue to persevere.

Hebrews 12:1-2
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."