Author: Brenda Cataldo

DIY How To Make a Floor Length Mirror Using a Kreg Pocket Hole Jig

The Devil Is a Liar! Battling Spiritual Warfare With the Word of God

If you want to learn how to create a blog like this, check out Bluehost and read my post where I walk you through step by step on How To Start a Blog.

Perfectly Imperfect Momma - Start a Blog Today - I Host My Blog On Bluehost And Why You Should Too — Perfectly Imperfect Momma – Start a Blog Today – I Host My Blog On Bluehost And Why You Should Too

Here are some awesome parenting books that I actually have on my nightstand and refer to frequently!

How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk is one of the best parenting books out there! It really breaks things down into very digestible bites and gives you great ways to implement what you learn! This book was a game-changer in helping me figure my kids out!

How to Talk so Little Kids Will Listen: A Survival Guide to Life with Children Ages 2-7How to Talk so Little Kids Will Listen: A Survival Guide to Life with Children Ages 2-7. This book is similar to the original, but tailors things to little ones. Was a great addition to the original!

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens is very well written and gives you a terrific game plan for helping your teen build a strong foundation for success!

Brenda Cataldo + Perfectly Imperfect Momma + Inspiring Mommas to Build Stronger Lives With Practical Parenting Tips and the Word of God.

Thanks so much for visiting my site!

Until Next Time, Let’s Be Perfectly Imperfect Together!

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January 16, 2019January 28, 2019

Creating a Family Budget & Getting Your Finances Under Control

Get Control of Your Finances! Make a Family Budget Today! You'll be so happy when you finally do it!

Financial health is just as important as keeping your body, mind and spirit healthy. All you have to do is keep your expenses lower than the money you have coming in monthly. It sounds easy, and in fact it is easy if you can set up some basic guidelines to adhere to. “How am I supposed to do that?” you are asking yourself. By creating a Family Budget that’s how!

THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS. PLEASE READ MY DISCLOSURE HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION.

First Things First – Make a Family Budget

Your budget is not always going to be exact, but it gives you a benchmark of what you can expect. This will be a living, breathing document because life happens. Sometimes unexpected expenses come up, or you may have a great sales month and make more money than expected. Either way, if you have a starting point, you will be better able to gauge your success, or setback if you have a budget set in place. Also, come up with some reasons that you want to create a budget. It’s good to have motivation to know why you are doing what you are doing.

Reasons For Making a Family Budget

There are several reasons that we needed to get our finances back on track.
1. Pay off our credit card debt
2. Pay off medical bills
3. Save money for a new SUV or Van
4. Keep setting aside money for college for the kids
5. Save money to do some home updates & renovations
6. Pay off our mortgage sooner
7. Save money to buy more investment properties
8. Grow our savings account so we have a larger safety net

What are some reasons that you want to get a Family Budget established for your home? Are some of them the same as ours? Here are a few other reasons some of our readers have suggested.
1. Pay off student loans
2. Get out of debt
3. Save up money for a vacation
4. Buy new furniture & appliances
5. Pay off vehicle

Make a List of All Money Coming In

You want to list all the money that you earn. This includes any salaries, commissions, rental income, child support, social security benefits, etc.. basically any money that you can deposit into your bank account. Start by listing any and everything you can think of. Just like it will be important to list your debts, it is also important to list your money coming in. The more accurate you are, the better idea you will have of your financial health.

Make a List of All Expenses

Sit down and tally up all of the expenses that you have. It’s important that you write everything down! Go through your receipts, bank statements, credit card statements and any other unpaid bills to get an accurate tally. The more precise that you are the better. It may even help to keep a spending journal or calendar with you so that you get the full picture of all money that is being spent.

Don’t Forget Periodic or Annual Expenses

Periodic expenses such as insurance payments and dental visits can be easy to forget and leave off the list since they only come around annually or bi-annually. Don’t leave yourself scrambling to cover these expenses. Allocate a portion of each paycheck towards your “Annual Expenses Fund” that way you have it covered when the time rolls around.

Categorize Expenses

Once you have everything written down, start organizing them into categories. The 3 basic categories that you will be able to start putting your expenses into are Fixed Expenses, Variable Expenses & Periodic Expenses. Some examples of expenses that are fixed expenses are mortgage payments, car payments, life insurance premiums.
Other expenses, like entertainment expenses, travel expenses, groceries, are Variable Expenses. While things like Dental Cleaning Payments, Home Maintenance and Auto Insurance Premiums are Periodic Expenses.

Prioritize Expenses

After you have put all of your expenses into categories start prioritizing them. There are almost always expenses that are just completely ridiculous that you can completely cut out.

Embarrassing But True:

When my husband and I finally sat down and went through all of our yearly expenses one year, we tallied up over $2700 spent at Dunkin Donuts! Being Real Estate Agents, it had just become part of our routine to swing through the drive through after dropping the kids off to school. We would each get a cup of coffee and a sandwich then start our day. It sounds crazy to me when I think back on it! What are some things you spend money on that you can scale back?

“Once you realize you have a problem, you can take the steps necessary to remedy the situation.”

Having a budget is such a great tool for financial stability because it gives you a benchmark. You can do a tally every week or every month to see where you are doing a good job saving and also where there are opportunities to reign in your spending. If you don’t measure what you are doing, it is difficult to tell if what you are doing is working or not.

If what you are earning isn’t enough to cover the bills that you have, some drastic changes need to happen. Either you need to really adjust your spending, or you need to earn more money. If you want to learn how I started a blog as a side hustle to earn extra money, click here to read my post on
How To Start Your Own Blog in 2019

What are some ways that you make extra money on the side? I would love to hear your ideas! Leave me a comment below.

Set Realistic Goals

Give yourself a timeline of when you want to achieve your objectives, but try to be realistic. This will take time. It doesn’t happen overnight. If you owe 100,000 on your mortgage for example, setting a goal of paying it off in a year is not realistic if you only earn $50,000 per year. (Unless one of your objectives is to earn a significant amount more per year) You get my drift.

So lets say you owe $500 on a credit card. Set a budget for yourself on how much you can afford per month to get that card paid off. Maybe give yourself 3-5 months to get it paid off. If you give yourself a timeline, it is easier to see how much progress you are making towards achieving your goal!

In Conclusion

While going through our expenses was painful and uncomfortable, it forced us to really be honest with how irresponsible our spending habits had become. With the daily craziness that was our life, work, kids, church, school, sports, marriage, house duties, family, endless activities and obligations, we had traded responsibility for convenience. We gave freely and recklessly of both our time, energy, effort and money.
The road we were going down was a road to disaster and burn out. It was time to slow things down!
We were spending money as quickly as it came in because we were not being conservative or responsible with our spending. Instead of meal prepping, we were eating out more often or ordering more take out dinners.

For my husband and I, making a Family Budget was absolutely essential in getting our life organized and back on track! With time and effort you can do it too! I’d love to know some of the things that have held you back from putting a budget together? Leave me a comment below and let me know.

Please note that I am not a certified financial advisor and the information shared on my site is from my own personal experiences. It is important that you consult with the proper legal, tax or financial professional to assist you with your particular financial situation.

Here are some other posts you may like. Check them out and let me know what you think.

DIY How To Make a Floor Length Mirror Using a Kreg Pocket Hole Jig

The Devil Is a Liar! Battling Spiritual Warfare With the Word of God

Thanks so much for visiting my site!

If you like what you read, leave us a comment and SUBSCRIBE below:

Until Next Time, Let’s Be Perfectly Imperfect Together!

January 10, 2019January 30, 2019

Mom Hacks For The New And Not So New Momma

There is not one perfect way to parent. Parenting has to work for you and your kids. If you have found a system that fits with your style, keep at it! I have 5 kids ranging in age from 21 months to 21 years old! Every single one of them has been different in their own ways. Here are some helpful Mom Hacks that I have used in my 21 plus years of being a momma. I hope that they can bless you and make things just a little bit easier for you in your daily life.

THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS. PLEASE READ MY DISCLOSURE HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION.

Mom Hack #1 – Prep Before Each Diaper Change

ALWAYS prepare your diaper, wipes, powder (and change of clothes if needed) before you do a diaper change. This includes for after bath time. When changing your baby’s diaper, the faster you work the better. Getting peed on & pooped on are more easily avoided if you act swiftly. Also the possibility of your little one becoming wiggly and jiggly increase the longer it takes to get him/her changed.

Mom Hack #2 – USE an EXTRA Baby Wipe Folks!

HUGGIES Simply Clean Fragrance-Free Baby Wipes Soft Pack, 704 Count

I know that you are trying to save money in these frugal times, but believe me when I say that you do not want to skimp on using an extra wipe to clean up your baby’s bottom. That poop can get pretty acidic and not cleaning thoroughly can cause diaper rashes. You don’t want your baby to suffer through that. USE an EXTRA baby wipe!! Your baby’s bottom will thank you! I like to use Huggies Baby Wipes. They are nice and thick and don’t break through when wiping up your baby’s business!

Mom Hack #3 – Use Cornstarch Powder After Each Diaper Change

Always put PURE CORNSTARCH baby powder on your baby’s front and back side after each diaper change. This will keep them dry and help to prevent diaper rash.
*DO NOT use talcum powder. There are studies to suggest that talcum powder can cause ovarian cancer.

Mom Hack #4 – Spend the $2.00 Extra For The Name Brand Powder

Johnson’s Lavender Baby Powder with Naturally Derived Cornstarch, Hypoallergenic and Paraben Free, 15 oz, Packaging May Vary (pack of 6)

I’m all for being thrifty and saving a buck where I can, but when it affects the quality, it’s better to spend a little extra. My husband has bought the generic store brand powder a couple times so I can tell you from experience that it gets very frustrating when you can’t twist the lid open. These bottles of powder are going to last you for probably at least 6 weeks. That extra $2.00 breaks down to an extra $0.04 a day. Go For It! SPLURGE! Click Here to buy it from Amazon.

Mom Hack #5- Wrap Up Those Dirty Diapers

Munchkin Arm & Hammer Diaper Bag Dispenser with Bags, Lavender Scent, Colors May Vary 1 ea

ALWAYS wrap dirty diapers in plastic bags. I even go so far as to wrap number two diapers in not one, but two sandwich size ziploc bags. I also have a handy bag dispenser attached to my diaper bag that has plastic bags in it for when I am on the go. There is nothing worse than smelling several dirty diapers in your inside trash can, or several days old dirty diapers in your outside trash bin. Your neighbors and trash collectors will also thank you!

Mom Hack #6 – Pack a Change of Clothes and Keep on Hand

ALWAYS Pack a change of clothes for you and baby. If you have older kids that are between 3-6 years old even if they are potty trained, pack them extra clothes too. Sometimes having a new little one can cause kids to regress a bit. Competing for mommy’s and daddy’s attention when there is a newborn can be difficult.

Mom Hack #7 Use Ziploc Bags to Organize Your Diaper Bag

Using Ziploc Bags can keep all your baby supplies easily compartmentalized.

Mom Hack #8 – Order Groceries & Supplies Online

Amazon Prime is my Best Friend!! As often as possible, order groceries and supplies online and have them delivered, or pick them up at the store. It’s a lot easier to drive up to the pickup zone and have a team member load your groceries than it is to drag your kids through the aisles of the store. Several stores offer outside pick up for your groceries and supplies. Walmart and Target are a couple of stores that offer this service. This will save you so much time and probably money as well! It will certainly save your sanity.

Mom Hack #9 – Use NoseFrida When Baby Gets Stuffed Up

NoseFrida the Snotsucker Baby Nasal Aspirator and Saline Nasal Spray Kit with 10 Hygiene filters by Fridababy – Sinus Congestion Relief for newborns up to toddlers

It’s not if, but when your baby gets stuffed up and congested, you will do everything you can to find relief for your little one. The best and fastest way that I have found in my 21 years of motherhood to get fast relief for congestion is to use a genius invention called The NoseFrida. Click this link to purchase it from Amazon. Seriously guys, this is the best thing ever. Now the concept of it grosses some people out, because you put a tube in your baby’s nose and basically suck the boogies out. I know I know it sounds disgusting, but rest assured that no snot will make it into your mouth. There is a filter that is attached to the tube that prevents this from happening. TRUST ME when your baby can breathe you will be thanking me for turning you on to this little gadget! You’re welcome

Mom Hack #10 – Use Saline Spray/Drops BEFORE You Use The NoseFrida

Little Remedies Saline Spray and Dropper | 0.5 oz | Pack of 1 | For Noses to Breathe Easily | Gently Wash Away Mucus | Newborn Safe

Using saline spray before you use the NoseFrida nasal aspirator will help loosen baby’s mucous and get you better results. I use Little Remedies brand Saline Spray / Drops. My kids always hate getting drops put in their nose, and they will fight me every step of the way. It feels like you are being so mean to them, but when you see how much better they can breathe afterwards, all the fuss will be worth it!

Mom Hack #11 – Self Care is a MUST

I will be completely honest. Of all the Mom Hacks, this is probably the one that I struggle with the most. It is so easy to get caught up in your day that you find little time to take care of yourself. But TRUST ME, Self Care is so important not only to your physical health, but also to your mental health! Take a shower, wash your face, brush your teeth, put on clean clothes, do your hair and makeup if you can. You will feel so much better and be so much more productive!

Mom Hack #12 – Invest In a Good Baby Cradle n’ Swing

Baby swings are pure magic! My kids pretty much lived/slept in their swing for the first 6 months. It was the only way I was able to get time to take a shower, or get anything done. Invest the money and buy a swing that has some good features. It’s great if it is battery powered, but make sure that it also has an A/C power cord as a backup! You don’t want to have to always buy batteries to keep this baby going. Also get one that has multiple positions and speeds available. A mobile and mirror to keep baby distracted is also a big plus. This is definitely an item you want to put on your registration!

Fisher-Price My Little Snugabear Cradle ‘n Swing

Mom Hack #13 – Sleep When Baby Is Sleeping

Seriously. Maybe not always, but in the early days and weeks, sleep when your baby is sleeping. This isn’t necessary once you have establish a sleep routine that works for you, but in the beginning, it is better to conserve as much energy as possible. Being a sleep deprived momma is not fun!

Mom Hack #14 – Keep Extra Plastic Bags In The Car

You know all those grocery store bags that you always have too many of? Keep like 5-10 of them in your car. You never know when you might need one. I’ve used them to put garbage in when I quickly do a trash sweep..cuz you know our cars get trashed with little ones. They have also come in handy for a dirty diaper, or dirty/wet clothes. The possibilities are endless.

Mom Hack #15 – Keep an Empty Wide Rimmed Bottle Handy

Now this Mom Hack is for when baby gets older, but my husband insisted that I needed to share this because it has saved us so many times! Haha! If you have boys and you are potty training, always keep an empty wide rimmed bottle on hand especially in the car. What are you going to use a wide rimmed bottle for you ask? Yup you guessed it, a portable toilet! When faced with the choice of pee all over the car seat, or pee into a bottle, my choice is the bottle every time. (Washing your car seat is a pain in the butt!) You gotta do what you gotta do. I like bottles from Bai or Gatorade. Sometimes you just can’t make it to the toilet in time and there is no bush in site for your little guy to discreetly pee into.

I hope that you have enjoyed these Mom Hacks and that you can use some in your day to day. What are some of your favorite Mom Hacks or Tips & Advice? I would love to know! Leave me a comment below. Even though I have been doing this mom thing for quite a while, I am always learning new little things to make my house and life run smoother.

Here are some other posts you may like. Check them out.

Creating a Family Budget & Getting Your Finances Under Control

DIY How To Make a Floor Length Mirror Using a Kreg Pocket Hole Jig

The Devil Is a Liar! Battling Spiritual Warfare With the Word of God

Thank you so much for visiting my site!

If you like what you read, leave us a comment and SUBSCRIBE below:

Until Next Time, Let’s Be Perfectly Imperfect Together!

January 6, 2019January 28, 2019

Bible Verses About Worry & Anxiety

25 Bible Scriptures About Worry and Anxiety

Have you ever been unable to sleep because you have so many thoughts racing through your head? Life’s daily worries and anxieties can throw our sleep schedule, not to mention our lives for a loop! Have you ever heard the saying “Your thoughts precede your actions? Our minds are a launching pad for the actions that we carry out throughout our day. What we think about can affect our day to day in many ways. That is why it is so important to fill our minds with God’s Word! God’s Word can calm our souls in ways you didn’t even know possible.

Keep reading to see some of the Bible Scriptures I turn to when my spirit feels stressed out and uneasy.

Philippians 4:6

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving,present your request to God.

Matthew 6:25-34 (NIV) New International Version

Do Not Worry

²⁵“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? ²⁶Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? ²⁷Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

²⁸“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. ²⁹Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. ³⁰If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? ³¹So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ ³²For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. ³³But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. ³⁴Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV) New International Version

⁵Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
⁶in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.

Romans 8:38-39 (NIV) New International Version

³⁸For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,^[a] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, ³⁹neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV) New International Version

⁶Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Luke 12:24-34 (NIV) New International Version

²⁴Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! ²⁵Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? ²⁶Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?

²⁷“Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. ²⁸If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith! ²⁹And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. ³⁰For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. ³¹But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.

³²“Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. ³³Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. ³⁴For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV) New International Version

²⁸“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. ²⁹Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

John 14:27 (NIV) New International Version

²⁷Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

Colossians 3:15 (NIV) New International Version

¹⁵Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.

Psalm 55:22 (NIV) New International Version

²²Cast your cares on the Lord
and he will sustain you;
he will never let
the righteous be shaken.

Proverbs 12:25 (NIV) New International Version

²⁵Anxiety weighs down the heart,
but a kind word cheers it up.

1 Peter 5:6-8 (NIV) New International Version

⁶Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. ⁷Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

⁸Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

Hebrews 13:5-6 (NIV) New International Version

⁵Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said,

“Never will I leave you;
never will I forsake you.”

⁶So we say with confidence,

“The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.
What can mere mortals do to me?”

Psalm 23:4 (NKJV) New King James Version

⁴Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

Isaiah 41:10 (NKJV) New King James Version

¹⁰Fear not, for I am with you;
Be not dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you,
Yes, I will help you,
I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’

Psalm 94:19 (NKJV) New King James Version

¹⁹In the multitude of my anxieties within me,
Your comforts delight my soul.

Psalm 34:4 (NKJV) New King James Version

⁴I sought the Lord, and He heard me,
And delivered me from all my fears.

2 Corinthians 12:10 (NIV) New International Version

¹⁰That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Philippians 4:13 (NKJV) New King James Version

¹³I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV) New King James Version

⁷For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

Isaiah 26:3 (NIV) New International Version

³You will keep in perfect peace
those whose minds are steadfast,
because they trust in you.

Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV) New International Version

¹¹For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Isaiah 41:13 (NIV) New International Version

¹³For I am the Lord your God
who takes hold of your right hand
and says to you, Do not fear;
I will help you.

Psalm 37:8-9 (NIV) New International Version

⁸Refrain from anger and turn from wrath;
do not fret—it leads only to evil.
⁹For those who are evil will be destroyed,
but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land.

2 Thessalonians 3:16 (NIV) New International Version

Final Greetings

¹⁶Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.

Here are some other posts you may like. Check them out.

Creating a Family Budget & Getting Your Finances Under Control

DIY How To Make a Floor Length Mirror Using a Kreg Jig

The Devil Is a Liar! Battling Spiritual Warfare With the Word of God

Thank you so much for visiting my site!

If you like what you read, leave us a comment and SUBSCRIBE to our Blog below:

Until Next Time, Let’s Be Perfectly Imperfect Together!

January 2, 2019January 28, 2019

How To Start Your Own Blog in 2019

Beginner's Guide to Starting Your Own Blog in 2019

Do You Want to Learn How to Start Your Very Own Blog? Do you have a message that you want to be heard by others? Would you like to earn some extra income working from home? Maybe even turn it into a full-time online business? Let Me Show You How to Start Your Very Own Blog in 2019!

When I was a little girl in the 3rd grade I won a young authors contest. I was able to go to a special convention in Orlando with my teacher and I was interviewed by our local TV station! It was so exciting! Ever since that day, I have always wanted to be a writer and an author! How amazing that in this day and age of something like the Internet that any one of us can be authors or writers! If you have a dream and you want your message to be heard, you can do it!

THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS. PLEASE READ MY DISCLOSURE HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION.

All It Takes Is ACTION!

#BrendaCataldo #PerfectlyImperfectMomma — Brenda Cataldo – Mom + Wife + Entrepreneur + Blogger + Perfectly Imperfect Momma

Fast forward to the future and a whole lot of life later, my writing dreams took a back seat to the realities of life.

Hello, my name is Brenda Cataldo. I am a lover of Jesus, a wife and a momma of five kiddos ranging from 21 months – 21 years old! I am also a licensed Realtor, Entrepreneur and Blogger. WOW! I know right? As you can imagine, life in our house gets busy!

Despite my crazy schedule, I just jumped in and DID IT! And boy am I happy that I did! Starting a blog has been one of the biggest things that has changed our lives.

I had wanted to start a blog for years. I had also tried to get my siblings to start one with me. But distance and busy lives with new little ones running around prevented that from happening.

I was so afraid to jump into it by myself because I thought:

What if I don’t have enough to talk about?
What if no one likes what I write about?
How much will it cost to start a blog?
Do I need to be tech savvy?
When will I even find the time to write blogs?
Will I really be able to make money doing this?

The Final Nudge I Needed To Get Me Off My Butt And JUST DO IT!

These and so many other questions ran through my mind. Maybe you have the same questions going through your head right now. Unfortunately for me, I gave in to that fear and worry for years, until one day when I felt convicted by 2 scriptures that I read.

The first one was in James 1:22 about not just listening to the word and fooling yourself, but to actually take action and DO what the word says! This scripture was followed up by another one, Ecclesiastes 11:1-6 about investing in many ventures.

I just couldn’t shake the feeling that I had wasted so much time dreaming about this and wishing for it to happen. It was time for me to take ACTION! So I did!

You can do it too! It’s not as difficult as you may think. Let me show you how.

Blog Vision & Focus

You need to have somewhat of an idea about what you will be writing about and why. Do you want to advertise your business or accent it with a blog? Will you be writing about how much you love cooking and share your recipes? Maybe you really love fitness, the outdoors and traveling and you want to write about that. Whatever it may be, do a brain dump and write down as many ideas as you can. Give yourself 10 minutes….OK GO!

What did you come up with? Think about the things that you love, the things that you are interested in. If you are interested in it, or if you like to read about those things, chances are that there is an audience out there that wants to read about it too!

Remember that (especially to stay motivated) in the beginning you need to be passionate about what you write about. If you just write about things that you think other people want to read about, your lack of excitement will come across in your writing.

Choose The Name of Your Blog

It should be as short as possible and catchy.

Make it easy to spell – the last thing that you want is to spend all this time creating a site and then not having anyone be able to find it because they can’t spell it correctly.

The name should mean something to you.

It should describe or express what you will be promoting, selling or writing about.

You should do your research and make sure that the name you choose is also available on Pinterest and all social media handles (ex. Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc). Your objective here is to make your brand flow as seamlessly as possible between all different forms of media that you will be promoting yourself on.

If you have a hard time coming up with a catchy name, or if the name that you really want is already taken, do a variation of the original name you wanted. You could also do your name, or a variation of your name.

Choose How Your Site Will Be Hosted

I’m sure you have seen advertisements on how you can start a blog for free with platforms like WordPress, Blogger, Wix or Weebly. You’ve probably wondered if it is in fact that easy to start your own blog. The simple answer is YES. Yes, it is that easy to start up your own blog. But the question you should really be asking yourself is this: “Do I want to make money on the blog that I start?” If you answered YES, let me tell you why you need to start a SELF-HOSTED site instead of a free site.

While self hosted sites will cost you a little bit of money initially, I think that you will agree that it is a worthwhile investment if you are planning on making money with your blog.

Free Sites Vs. Self Hosted Sites

You see, free sites are great for the “Just For Fun” blogger because it’s free and let’s face it, who doesn’t love free? The problem with free when it comes to your blog hosting is that when your blog is hosted by a free platform such as Blogger or Weebly, you DO NOT TECHNICALLY OWN your blog!! So that means you are at the mercy of Blogger, or Weebly, or whoever owns the platform your blog is running on. If the platform ever decided they wanted to shut your blog down, at any time they could! If you are making money on your blog, that could have devastating results for you and your family!

With a Self Hosted site, YOU OWN YOUR BLOG! This will give you control of what happens with your website. First you will need to purchase your domain name, I would recommend a DOT.COM. This is the go-to for most bloggers. Then you choose a provider like Bluehost to “HOST” your domain name.

With all that being said, if you are planning to MAKE MONEY WITH YOUR BLOG, you absolutely need to pay for hosting!

Bluehost is who I use to host all of my blogs. They have a quick and easy install of WordPress which is a free and open-source content management system.
According to data from web technology survey firm W3Techs, WordPress now powers 30% of websites worldwide. Bluehost is the # 1 TRUSTED WordPress Hosting Provider and all of their platforms are built upon reliable, high performance servers. Their amazing customer service is also available 24/7 so if you run into any issues or problems with your site, rest assured that help is only a phone call away!

Bluehost Setup – Let’s Get Started

Setting up your blog through Bluehost is easy.
First thing you want to do is click this link to take you to Bluehost. Using my link will get you a special price as well as getting a domain name & SSL certificate for free. Don’t worry, the link will open up a new tab, so this one will still be open so that you can click back and forth for easy setup.

Start Your Blog With Bluehost HERE!

Bluehost Home Page - Beginner's Guide to Starting a Blog - Perfectly Imperfect Momma — Bluehost Home Page – Beginner’s Guide to Starting a Blog – Perfectly Imperfect Momma

Bluehost Select Your Plan

Choose the Bluehost plan you want to go with.
If you are just starting out, selecting the basic plan will work, just make sure when you are selecting options to spend a little extra to get the domain privacy. Keep in mind that if you don’t choose this option, anyone can look up the owner of your website and your private information is accessible like you name and address. Go for the upgraded plan if you can swing it though. It comes with a lot of extras for the money.

Bluehost Plans Available - Beginner's Guide to Starting a Blog - Perfectly Imperfect Momma — Bluehost Plans Available – Beginner’s Guide to Starting a Blog – Perfectly Imperfect Momma

PLEASE NOTE:

I want to disclose this to you before you get deep into the setup process. Bluehost requires that you pay upfront for their hosting packages. You can pay upfront for 12 months, 24 months or 36 months.

There are many great reasons for upfront billing. Crazy things happen like getting your credit cards stolen. What if you forget to update your payment information with Bluehost? By billing upfront, you can avoid billing issues that could come up that would affect your site being up. It would be heartbreaking to see all the hard work you put in to creating your site get bungled up because of a billing issue! The peace of mind knowing that your site is secure for 1-3 years is priceless!

Another great reason is that you are able to make sure that your domain name, and basically your brand, can’t be purchased out from under you by somebody else. If you are serious about earning an income from your blog, TRUST ME, you do not want to do a month to month set up!

Bluehost Domain Search

Once you choose the plan that you want, you will be led to this screen where you can look up to see if the domain name you want is available.

If the name you want isn’t available, don’t be discouraged. Just keep trying different names, or variations of the name you want. You can also use your name if that’s available.

Bluehost Create Your Account

Once you have decided on your name, click on it and it will bring you to the screen where you put in all of your personal information. Put all of your information in and scroll down the page to the package information.

Bluehost Package Selection

This is where you will select the options that you want. Remember to make sure when you are selecting options to spend a little extra to get the Domain Privacy Protection. If you don’t choose this option, anyone can look up the owner of your domain name and your private information is accessible like you name and address. If you pay up front for 36 months, that will get you the best price. I wanted to get the most bang for my buck so this is the option that I went with.

Bluehost Package and Payment - Beginner's Guide to Starting a Blog - Perfectly Imperfect Momma — Bluehost Package and Payment – Beginner’s Guide to Starting a Blog – Perfectly Imperfect Momma

Bluehost Payment

Once you select your package information and extras, in-put your payment information. And press that button! A confirmation page will follow where Bluehost will tell you the email that they have sent your confirmation to. You will also get your order receipt as well.

Welcome to Bluehost - Beginner's Guide to Starting a Blog - Perfectly Imperfect Momma — Welcome to Bluehost – Beginner’s Guide to Starting a Blog – Perfectly Imperfect Momma

CONGRATULATIONS!!

You are now the proud owner of a Domain Name that is hosted through Bluehost!! You are another step closer to getting your blog up and running!

CLICK HERE to Host Your Domain Name With Bluehost!

Bluehost Password Setup

Now it’s time to create your Password for your Bluehost Login. Make sure that you keep your Login and Password information in a safe place. You will need these to open up your account so that you can make edits to your site.

Bluehost Create Your Password - Beginner's Guide to Starting a Blog - Perfectly Imperfect Momma — Bluehost Create Your Password – Beginner’s Guide to Starting a Blog – Perfectly Imperfect Momma

Bluehost Password Created - Beginner's Guide to Starting a Blog - Perfectly Imperfect Momma — Bluehost Password Created – Beginner’s Guide to Starting a Blog – Perfectly Imperfect Momma

WordPress Setup

Once you have created your Password, press the Login button. It will automatically take you to your WordPress setup. You will be asked to select a theme that inspires you. It’s OK if you aren’t sure which one to pick. You can select one now and change it later, or you can skip this step.

Word Press Template Setup - Beginner's Guide to Starting a Blog - Perfectly Imperfect Momma — Word Press Template Setup – Beginner’s Guide to Starting a Blog – Perfectly Imperfect Momma

Word Press Template Setup – Beginner’s Guide to Starting a Blog – Perfectly Imperfect Momma
Word Press Template Setup – Beginner’s Guide to Starting a Blog – Perfectly Imperfect Momma

Once your Template has been applied, you will get a Welcome to Word Press screen pop up that will start asking you some questions.

They will ask if you are setting up a business or personal account. If you are planning on monetizing your blog, select the business button.

Word Press Template Setup – Beginner’s Guide to Starting a Blog – Perfectly Imperfect Momma

WordPress Setup - Beginner's Guide to Starting a Blog - Perfectly Imperfect Momma — WordPress Setup – Beginner’s Guide to Starting a Blog – Perfectly Imperfect Momma

Jetpack Setup

Jetpack

Jetpack setup and WordPress Setup - Beginner's Guide to Starting a Blog - Perfectly Imperfect Momma — Jetpack setup and WordPress Setup – Beginner’s Guide to Starting a Blog – Perfectly Imperfect Momma

After setting up your Jetpack account, you will be taken back to your WordPress site. Now it’s time to start customizing your site!

The sidebar below displays all the options that you have to be able to edit your website. There are so many great ways that you can edit your free template.

There are many great tutorials on YouTube that show in great detail how to use WordPress and customize your template. Definitely experiment and look through all the sections. The more that you learn and feel comfortable with using WordPress, the better that your site is going to look!

Congratulations my friend! You are well on your way to getting your blog up and running!

If you missed the link for Starting Your Blog with Bluehost above, just CLICK HERE, or the link below.

Start Your Blog with Bluehost! CLICK HERE

I would love to hear from you and know whether this tutorial was helpful in getting you started on your new blog. Leave me a comment below and subscribe to my blog. It would really make my day! Until next time friend!

Here are some other posts you may like. Check them out.

Creating a Family Budget & Getting Your Finances Under Control

DIY – How To Make a Floor Length Mirror Using a Kreg Pocket Hole Jig

The Devil Is a Liar! Battling Spiritual Warfare With the Word of God

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December 27, 2018January 28, 2019

DIY – How To Make a Floor Length Mirror Using a Kreg Pocket Hole Jig

DIY How To Make a Floor Length Mirror Using a Kreg Jig #PerfectlyImperfectMomma #BrendaCataldo #DIY #KregJig

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I want to share with you how I created my very own floor length mirror using an old bathroom mirror and a few building supplies. It’s not as hard as you may think.

My husband Mickey and I have what seems to be a never ending list of DIY projects that we are always tackling. Mostly for our own home, but also sometimes for others like our parents or siblings. This particular DIY project was a long time coming!

THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS. PLEASE READ MY DISCLOSURE HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION.

Completed DIY Floor Length Mirror made using a Kreg Jig. #PerfectlyImperfectMomma #BrendaCataldo #DIY #FloorLengthMirror #KregJig

For this project, I wanted to surprise him by framing an old mirror that we had in our room that has been just leaning up against the wall for seriously probably four years! This mirror came out of our master bathroom when we renovated it upon buying our home. Through the years it has gotten chipped along the bottom and I was worried that one of our littles would hurt themselves on it. Hence the need for me to get this done.

I had been looking through Pinterest for ideas and saw a bunch of different ways to tackle this project. So what I did was combine some of the best ideas and created my own little system.

The big item that I purchased to get this project completed was my Kreg Jig set. The Pocket Hole Kreg Jig R3 was $44.00, the Pocket Hole Screw Project Kit was $29.99 and the Clamp was $14.99, I happened to have an Amazon credit, so technically I didn’t have to pay for it, but even if I did, let me tell you it is worth EVERY penny! I LOVE this thing! I will put a link of which ones they are exactly that I used.

Kreg Jig R3, Kreg Pocket Hole Screw Project Kit, Kreg Classic 2″ Face Clamp

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Preparation:

First things first, here is my supply list. Anytime I do a project, I always try to be as organized as possible. I am a big-time list maker! It really helps to not only keep me organized, but also on task.

Supply List:

Wood to frame your mirror – (the wood will vary in size depending on the size of your mirror)
Mirror
Dewalt Power Drill
Ryobi Circular Saw
Kreg Pocket Jig R3 Set
Pocket Hole Screws – I used the Kreg Project Kit
Classic 2″ Face Clamp by Kreg
Clamps – miscellaneous (I grabbed whatever I could find in my shed)
Gorilla Wood Glue
Extension Cord
Varathane Wood Stain – I used Light Walnut
Minwax Wood Finish – I used Jacobean 2750
Caulk
Mirror Clips
L Brackets – I bought these at Home Depot because they were cheaper there than buying them online. *Because you know, a penny saved is a penny earned!
Any size rocks
Brush or rag for stain application
Little Helping Hands.. My helpers were Brad, Rival & Ava

Helpful Tip:

When I bought the wood, I had Home Depot cut the wood down for me. I was very specific with the gentleman about my measurements. Even though I had gone into great detail, when I got home and started the project I realized his cuts were off. So always make sure to measure while you are there, or you will have to make cuts when you get home. (This is the only reason I needed my circular saw, otherwise you can leave that off the list.)

Supplies Used to Build a Floor Length Mirror Using a Kreg Jig. #PerfectlyImperfectMomma #BrendaCataldo #DIY #FloorLengthMirror #KregJig

Gather all your supplies together and make sure all your wood pieces are the accurate measurements before drilling, screwing or gluing them together. I did a dry run and laid mine out on the ground the way they were supposed to be to get a visual on what it would look like. Make sure you like the way the grain is running and that the knots that will be seen are where you will like looking at them every day.

Drilling the Pocket Holes:

Drilling The Pocket Holes

Measure out where you will be drilling your pocket holes to join your 2 pieces of wood together.
Attach the Kreg Pocket Hole Jig to your piece of wood using the Kreg clamp. You could use another clamp if you don’t have the Kreg clamp, but it is a little more cumbersome. The Kreg clamp fit in the hole perfectly and was very easy to work with.
Once you have your jig clamped in securely, drill your holes. You will need to un-clamp and reposition your jig and repeat this step at each position you want to drill your additional pocket holes.
When you have drilled out all of your pocket holes, get your wood pieces ready to be glued and screwed together. Make sure to double check the size screws that you are using. You want to have a long enough screw to secure the wood pieces together. But at the same time, you do not want to use a screw that is too long as it will poke right through the other side of the wood. I used the pocket hole screws recommended for the Kreg jig set and they had great instructions and tips in their packaging that gave you the idea of the correct size to use.
Before screwing your wood pieces together, you will want to secure them together with wood glue and clamps so that you can keep them level. Also put some wood glue in the holes where you will be screwing the wood together.
Time to screw the wood together! Repeat as needed.
Once I had glued and screwed all of my pieces together, I kept the clamps on the joints and put my frame in a safe secure place and let it dry overnight.
After the glue was dried and set, I took my frame outside for the distressing and staining process.

Distressing the Wood Frame:

I laid painting tarps down to protect the floor from the wood stain. To distress my wood pieces to give them a more rustic look, I gathered a few rocks from my garden and used them to smooth the edges of my frame as well as make holes and dings and dents throughout the wood. How you do this is all up to you and your preference. Just have fun with it. This is a good time to let the kids have fun with it too. We even took a hammer out and I let my kiddos bang away at it!

Distressing the Wood Frame
Distressing the Wood Frame

Staining the Wood Frame:

Once I completed my distressing, I brushed a coat of the Varathane Wood Stain in light walnut over the entire frame.

Helpful Tip:

Also make sure to stain the small portion underneath where the mirror will sit because if you don’t, your mirror will show unfinished wood.

Applied Varathane Wood Stain in Light Walnut as the first coat onto the wooden frame.
Applied Varathane Wood Stain in Light Walnut as the first coat onto the wooden frame.

This coat was too red for my liking, so before this coat dried, I applied the Minwax Wood Stain over the entire frame using a brush. I wiped the stain off with a dry rag as I went along to achieve my desired color.

Minwax Wood Finish – Jacobean 2750
Applied the Minwax Wood Finish after Varathane Wood Stain to darken the finish.
Applied the Minwax Wood Finish after Varathane Wood Stain to darken the finish.
I wiped the excess Minwax Wood Finish off before it dried to achieve my finished color.

Just Having Some Fun:

Ava Dane having some fun!
Peek-a-boo!
Having some fun!

Ava was such a good girl through the process of creating this mirror frame. She got to have some fun with the paper I laid down to protect my rug. Took a minute out to just enjoy my kiddos! Feeling so blessed to be able to spend this precious time with them!

Let frame dry completely.

Wood Frame Drying After Stain Applied. DIY How To Make a Floor Length Mirror.
Wood Frame Drying After Stain Applied. DIY How To Make a Floor Length Mirror.

Once my frame was dry. I laid it down on the tarp and it was time to adhere the mirror to the frame. This was a tricky process for a couple reasons. One being the mirror was large and heavy and the second being we had to work fairly quickly because we didn’t want the adhesive to dry out.

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Helpful Tip:

Before applying adhesive to the wood frame, I laid the mirror out onto the back of the frame and positioned it where I wanted it to go. I traced around the entire mirror onto the wood with a pencil, so when I lifted the mirror away, there was an easy outline of where I was going to put the mirror. Set your mirror aside in a safe place while you apply the adhesive.

Attaching the Mirror to the Wood Frame:

Apply the adhesive to the back of the wood frame in side of where you traced your mirror frame. This adhesive will help to secure your mirror to the wood frame.
Carefully lay your mirror down onto the wood frame. Use the outline that you made as a guide.
Once the mirror is positioned where you want it to be, install your mirror clips all the way around the entire mirror and frame.
I also installed corner L brackets at the 4 corners of the back of my frame just to be safe because the mirror frame I made was HUGE!

Let your mirror adhesive dry and Voila! You have yourself a Beautiful Floor Length Mirror!

Helpful Tip:

I used adhesive caulk to basically glue the mirror to the wood frame. You can find several different kinds of adhesive to use. I used the kind that was designed for mirrors. Once I glued the mirror on, I installed the mirror clips all the way around the mirror. Then, I applied the l brackets at the corners of the mirror as shown in the pictures. This was probably an overkill, but my mirror and frame is so big that I did not want to take any chances.

The Big Reveal:

The big reveal was awesome and our son Brad was on hand to snap a pic of Daddy’s first reaction to our project. SURPRISE!! My husband Mickey had no idea that we had created this monster sized mirror! (We hid it in my son Christopher’s room..tricky tricky we are!)

This project was so fun to do with my kiddos! As you can see, they are all proud of their handy work and are enjoying their newest accomplishment! Love all the face and fingerprints Ava left all over the mirror! Haha!

Here are some other posts you may like. Check them out.

Creating a Family Budget & Getting Your Finances Under Control

How To Start Your Own Blog in 2019 D

The Devil Is a Liar! Battling Spiritual Warfare With the Word of God

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Until next time! Let’s Be Perfectly Imperfect Together!

December 21, 2018January 28, 2019

Bible Scriptures on Humbleness & Humility

What does being humble mean to you?

This is what the Word of God has to say about it.

James 4:10 (NIV) New International Version

¹⁰Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

Ephesians 4:2 (NIV) New International Version

²Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.

Colossians 3:12 (NIV) New International Version

¹²Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

James 4:6 (NIV) New International Version

⁶But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says:

“God opposes the proud
but shows favor to the humble.”

1 Peter 5:5 (NIV) New International Version

⁵In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because,

“God opposes the proud
but shows favor to the humble.”

2 Chronicles 7:14 (NIV) New International Version

¹⁴if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

Luke 14:11 (NIV) New International Version

¹¹For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

Micah 6:8 (NIV) New International Version

⁸He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God.

Proverbs 3:34 (NIV) New International Version

³⁴He mocks proud mockers
but shows favor to the humble and oppressed.

Proverbs 11:2 (NIV) New International Version

²When pride comes, then comes disgrace,
but with humility comes wisdom.

Proverbs 12:15 (NIV) New International Version

¹⁵The way of fools seems right to them,
but the wise listen to advice.

Proverbs 15:33 (NIV) New International Version

³³Wisdom’s instruction is to fear the Lord,
and humility comes before honor.

Proverbs 18:12 (NIV) New International Version

¹²Before a downfall the heart is haughty,
but humility comes before honor.

Proverbs 22:4 (NIV) New International Version

⁴Humility is the fear of the Lord;
its wages are riches and honor and life.

Proverbs 27:2 (NIV) New International Version

²Let someone else praise you, and not your own mouth;
an outsider, and not your own lips.

Psalm 25:9 (NIV) New International Version

⁹He guides the humble in what is right
and teaches them his way.

Psalm 149:4 (NIV) New International Version

⁴For the Lord takes delight in his people;
he crowns the humble with victory.

Romans 12:3 (NIV) New International Version

Humble Service in the Body of Christ

³For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.

Romans 12:16 (NIV) New International Version

¹⁶Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (NIV) New International Version

⁹But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. ¹⁰That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships,in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Philippians 2:3-4 (NIV) New International Version

³Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, ⁴not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

Matthew 23:10-12 (NIV) New International Version

¹⁰Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one Instructor, the Messiah. ¹¹The greatest among you will be your servant. ¹²For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.

James 4:14-16 (NIV) New International Version

¹⁴Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.¹⁵Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” ¹⁶As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil.

Philippians 2:5-8 (NIV) New International Version

⁵In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

⁶Who, being in very nature God,
    did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
⁷rather, he made himself nothing
    by taking the very nature of a servant,
    being made in human likeness.
⁸And being found in appearance as a man,
    he humbled himself
    by becoming obedient to death—
        even death on a cross!

Here are some other posts you may like. Check them out.

Creating a Family Budget & Getting Your Finances Under Control

DIY How To Make a Floor Length Mirror Using a Kreg Pocket Hole Jig

December 3, 2018January 28, 2019

If you like what you read, leave us a comment and SUBSCRIBE below:

Until Next Time, Let’s be Perfectly Imperfect Together!

The Devil Is a Liar! Battling Spiritual Warfare With the Word of God

The Devil is a Liar! Spiritual Warfare and How to Battle it With the Word of God

Sometimes life seems so unfair and cruel. You feel hopeless and sad because life seems stacked against you. The people that you love most say nasty things to you and cut you down. They tell you things about yourself that you fear to be true. They tell you that you are boring, or you cause drama, you are a bad mother (or father), or any other number of things that you know in your heart not to be true. For a brief second(or few seconds) you buy into the lies that are being fed to you.

At this point you are feeling really deflated and down on yourself. A heavy spirit feels like it is draped around you. You feel angry, alone, fearful, and anxious. You are crying big tears that just roll down your face. Maybe you are even calling out to Jesus and asking Him why Lord, why? I’ll tell you why. Read what Ephesians 6:12 and 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 has to say.

Ephesians 6:12 (NIV) New International Version

¹²For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

2 Corinthians 10:3-5 (NIV) New International Version

³For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does.⁴The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. ⁵We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

You and your family are under a spiritual attack. Make no mistake that this is Spiritual Warfare! There is a battle going on for your soul. A battle that is being fiercely fought! However, there is something you can do. Certainly now is the time to fight back! This is the point where you need to take a deep breath and dig deep into the Word of God! It is time to rebuke the devil in Jesus’s name!

Ephesians 6:11 (NIV) New International Version

¹¹Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.

Matthew 18:18-20 (NIV) New International Version

¹⁸“Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.

¹⁹“Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. ²⁰For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”

It’s hard because you feel like you are doing what God wants you to do, then all of a sudden all these bad things happen.

Picture this, you have just had a great afternoon. While at the grocery store, you met someone in line and you were able to witness to that person and share with her some scripture or testimony that she really needed to hear. After the encounter, you walk away feeling like you just glorified God’s name (and you did). You come home and start putting the groceries away before the kids get home from school. As you start going through the mail and open a bill from the hospital that was supposed to be covered by the insurance company. It says that you owe $1600 because the service performed was not approved by the insurance company. You haven’t budgeted for that expense. How are you possibly going to pay that charge?

You are under a spiritual attack my friend.

Congratulations, you are on the devil’s radar. He does not like when you further the kingdom of God. The devil wants to distract you and get you off course. Therefore, he will do everything he can to succeed. Satan seeks to destroy you and your family, while Jesus has other plans. Plans that you would have a full life! It’s time to start rebuking the devil with scripture.

Ephesians 6:10-18 New International Version (NIV)

The Armor of God

¹⁰Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. ¹¹Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. ¹²For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.¹³Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. ¹⁴Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, ¹⁵and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. ¹⁶In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. ¹⁷Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

¹⁸And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

Don’t listen to the devil’s lies. He has been a deceiver from the beginning!

Revelation 12:7-9 (ESV) English Standard Version

Satan Thrown Down to Earth

⁷Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, ⁸but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. ⁹And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.

John 8:44 (ESV) English Standard Version

⁴⁴You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

Matthew 25:41 (NIV) New International Version

⁴¹“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.

Revelation 20:10 (NIV) New International Version

¹⁰And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

John 10:10 New International Version (NIV)

¹⁰The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

The devil wants to make you feel isolated. Like you are the only person feeling these feelings. The devil is a liar! In 1 PETER 5:9. It states the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of suffering!!

1 Peter 5:8-9 (NIV) New International Version

⁸Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. ⁹Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

Guys, you are not alone. The devil only wants to make you feel like you are because it will be easier to manipulate you. This is the reason it is so important for us as the family of believers to arm ourselves with the Word of God! If we know the Word backwards and forwards, when the devil tries to feed us his baloney, we can very easily detect his lies. Remember that the devil is very tricky. He can and often does use people close to you, even fellow believers to do his dirty work. Satan even tried to use the apostle Peter for example. None of us are immune to his attacks.

Mark 8:33 (NIV) New International Version

³³But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. “Get behind me, Satan!” he said. “You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”

Genesis 50:20 (NET) New English Translation

²⁰As for you, you meant to harm me, but God intended it for a good purpose, so he could preserve the lives of many people, as you can see this day.

Sometimes it feels overwhelming, but know that the Lord has made a promise to you. Claim those promises and keep pressing forward.

Psalm 37:12-16 (NIV) New International Version

¹²The wicked plot against the righteous
and gnash their teeth at them;
¹³but the Lord laughs at the wicked,
for he knows their day is coming.

¹⁴The wicked draw the sword
    and bend the bow
to bring down the poor and needy,
    to slay those whose ways are upright.
¹⁵But their swords will pierce their own hearts,
    and their bows will be broken.

¹⁶Better the little that the righteous have
than the wealth of many wicked;

Isaiah 54:17 (NKJV) New King James Version

¹⁷No weapon formed against you shall prosper,
And every tongue which rises against you in judgment
You shall condemn.
This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord,
And their righteousness is from Me,”
Says the Lord.

The devil will try to destroy your marriage and family. You must pray and guard against the devil’s attacks!

Mark 10:9 (NKJV) New King James Version

⁹Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.”

Look to the scriptures and say this prayer to protect you and your family.

Psalm 91 (NLT) New Living Translation

Psalm 91

¹Those who live in the shelter of the Most High
    will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
²This I declare about the Lord:
He alone is my refuge, my place of safety;
    he is my God, and I trust him.
³For he will rescue you from every trap
    and protect you from deadly disease.
⁴He will cover you with his feathers.
    He will shelter you with his wings.
    His faithful promises are your armor and protection.
⁵Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night,
    nor the arrow that flies in the day.
⁶Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness,
    nor the disaster that strikes at midday.
⁷Though a thousand fall at your side,
    though ten thousand are dying around you,
    these evils will not touch you.
⁸Just open your eyes,
    and see how the wicked are punished.

⁹If you make the Lord your refuge,
    if you make the Most High your shelter,
¹⁰no evil will conquer you;
    no plague will come near your home.
¹¹For he will order his angels
    to protect you wherever you go.
¹²They will hold you up with their hands
    so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.
¹³You will trample upon lions and cobras;
    you will crush fierce lions and serpents under your feet!

¹⁴The Lord says, “I will rescue those who love me.
    I will protect those who trust in my name.
¹⁵When they call on me, I will answer;
    I will be with them in trouble.
    I will rescue and honor them.
¹⁶I will reward them with a long life
    and give them my salvation.”

Hang in there friends and above all, keep your faith strong. Until next time, just know that the battle is already won!

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