The One with Being Authentic - Tuesday Talk

Welcome back to Tuesday Talk!

What an amazing link up we had last week!

Thank you sooooo much for joining us.

Now...first thing's first ------->

The Winner of my Giveaway is..................

Natalie McClay

Congrats! 

Email me (mrscoachsims@gmail.com) your address and I will get your book to you!

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Today I want to talk about being authentic.  Back in 2012 ... when I started this little blog...that was the main thing I wanted to be - AUTHENTIC.

I spend most of my time being shy, quiet and introverted.

Blogging was going to be a way for me to express myself and get to know others

 through writing and social media.  

I know that it's easy to paint a perfect picture online and while I spend the majority of my time trying to be encouraging and positive.... I never want you to think I am pretending that I'm perfect or that our lives are perfect.

Hardly.  

My house is usually a mess, I spend more time some mornings getting onto the kids than I would like just because I hit snooze more times than I should, I can be super insecure and at times jealous.  

This is by far my worst quality.  One that I hope to overcome in 2015.

Ugh, blah, I know :)

It's hard to trust again and sometimes it's hard to relinquish control and say to God, "I trust you and I know you will take care of me."

but if there is one thing I have learned this past year...it is 

that it's essential.

Lord have mercy is it essential.

The truth of my insecurity is that it has nothing to do

 with anyone else.

Just me.  

It is completely about the lies in my head that I have allowed myself to believe.

It it a trap.  One that can be easy to fall into and one that is challenging to pull yourself out of.

There are many areas of my life that I have resigned to the Lord... ways that I have died to self.

Such as, 

I am very forgiving. I don't hold grudges and I let things go easily.

I accept others for who they are and love them as God loves me.

Silence is golden.  

I strive to not gossip and to only use my words to build others up and encourage them.

Occasionally, I find myself in a conversation that I usually regret....but I'm quick to change the conversation and ask for forgiveness.

I am truly happy for others when they succeed.

I am excited when good things happen to others.

I love it when someone achieves a goal they have worked hard for. 

I love it when others are just generally happy and things are going great for them!

I have learned to be happy where I am and with what I have.

I am thankful for all of my blessings.

I know there are people out there that are praying for the things that we sometimes complain about. 

These are a few of the things that over the years as I have walked with God and studied His Word that I have been able to make part of my life.

but Lord help me...this one thing is holding me back from enjoying the completely happy, wonderful life that God has promised me.

I know that this is the year that I will overcome the dark, ugly corner of my mind that is filled with fear and insecurity.

I plan to daily replace it with God's truth.

I plan to let it go....

I don't want any part of it any more.

It's ugly, it's embarrassing and it does not represent the freedom that we have when 

we truly are One with God.

In the book Jesus Calling by Sarah Young ... on October 19th she speaks about being authentic. 

Where is the peace if we are constantly being fake?  Be ourselves, admit where we have failed, move on, be better.

I want to be better. 

and I want you to know the true me.

I want to be authentic in all areas of my life.

I don't always talk about things in my life, but when asked questions I will not lie...I am an open book.

I just choose to move forward and be better than I was yesterday.

I hope you have had a great Tuesday.

Thanks so much for reading!

xoxoxo.......

Becky from BYBMG 

Beth from Our Pretty Little Girls

Chelsea from The Contented Wife

Elizabeth from All Kinds of Things

Tara from Mrs. Coach Sims

Keri from Living In This Season

Sarah from Abiding In Grace

Lauren from Simply Free

Andrea from Mitchael Journey

Jessica & Katie from Sweet Little Ones

Mandy from Almond Place

Teressa from Teressa Jane

An InLinkz Link-up

The One with my Opinion on Blogging - Tuesday Talk

I love blogging.

When I started I promised myself that I would never apologize for not blogging.

I promised myself that I would never feel guilty about it either.

I haven't, but I do miss it when I can't find a stinkin' minute to sit down long enough to write one post.

As I've been away from my blog for the past 8 weeks or so.... this is how I have felt ----->

found on Pinterest

I've just been living.  

I am not the best at chronicling my life, but I definitely enjoy it.

I told myself that I will blog when I can and if you choose to read it great! If not...that's great too....

I know that you are all just as busy as I am! 

There are several blogs that I would LOVE to enjoy on a daily basis, but between my full-time job, my wife & mom duties, etc. etc..... I just can't squeeze them ALL in.

I have already surpassed my personal goals for my blog.

I have met some great blogging friends....some whom I am co-hosting this new weekly link up with.

I have pried myself a little bit out of my introverted shell that I "created" over the past several years.

I also attended a very fun dinner with the Texas Women Bloggers in Dallas.

If along the way I earn money through blogging then it will just be a nice bonus because that is not on the top of my 

priority list right now.

This past year I have become a part of a blogging community that I am so appreciative of.  
Their friendships have meant a lot to me.

Each one of us in this group is different. 

We all have different things going on in our lives and we all have different goals for our blogs.  

Even though we are all different...we create together and encourage one another.

We want to see each other reach their goals.

As always... my hope for this blog is just to be an encouragement to each of my readers.

Life is hard, life is messy.... but with God it can still be so beautiful.

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Welcome to our 1st Edition of Tuesday Talk.

We would love for you to link up with us and share what is on your heart.

Oh and there are lots of GIVEAWAYS!!!
Each co-host is giving away one of their FAVORITE THINGS....

see the list below :)

Becky from BYBMG is giving away JAMBERRY NAIL WRAPS SHEET

Beth from Our Pretty Little Girls is giving away a STARBUCKS GIFT CARD

Chelsea from The Contented Wife is giving away a SCARF

Elizabeth from All Kinds of Things is giving away a NECKLACE

Keri from Living In This Season is giving away a SMALL DAILY PLANNER

Sarah from Abiding In Grace is giving away MARINE PARENTS RUFFLED POUCH

Lauren from Simply Free is giving away MERE CHRISTIANITY BY C.S. LEWIS

Andrea from Mitchael Journey is giving away POLLAN FAMILY COOKBOOK

Jessica & Katie from Sweet Little Ones is giving away 1 YEAR SUBSCRIPTION TO BETTER HOMES & GARDENS

Mandy from Almond Place is giving away ESSI LIP BALM

Teressa from Teressa Jane is giving away MAKE IT HAPPEN BY LARA CASEY

and I am giving away a copy of JESUS CALLING BY SARAH YOUNG

ENTER BELOW 

and visit the other blogs to win one of their favorite things.

- Please follow your hosts in some way- we would love to connect with you!
- Visit the other links and leave some comment love.
- By linking up to this link party, you give us permission to feature an image on our blog and social media. Proper credit and links will be given!
- Remember to link back using the button or text link.
- Optional: On social media #TuesTalk as you share your post

a Rafflecopter giveaway

An InLinkz Link-up