Joyfull Living

The topic for today At the Well is - Mean Girls. Not a very pleasant topic huh? But this is a very real situation that we have all dealt with at one time or another and one that will continue to come up at times - dealing with girls who are not very nice. What is a "mean girl"? Is it the girl on the school playground who treats others badly by using unkind words, manipulation or is physically rough if she doesn't get her way? Remember how she seemed to plow through everything and everyone to get her way? Is it the same girl who is so accustomed to getting her own way that all through life, she intimidates others, puts herself first at whatever cost, has no regard for other people's feelings, cuts sharply with her words and charges boldly ahead to the top? Questions to consider: What do we do when we come across a mean girl? As a Titus 2 woman, how can we raise our daughters to not be a mean girl? Looking back, can you remember a time that you were a victim of a m...

My sister in law Danell and I picked blackberries one day this week. It was a first time endeavor for me! Here is the bounty of fruit..now, what to do with it? Let's start by mashing the berries up: Then adding some sugar and cooking them a while... Then if we spoon them into a jar.. And boil the jars so the lids seal... We will have some delicious blackberry jam!

The world we live in is all about change. Always seeking to be faster, newer, more efficient and better. Our families continually grow and change, kids mature and go through different stages. Our situations change and circumstances can change at the drop of a hat. Isn't it refreshing and a solid truth to hold near to the heart that Jesus never changes? He was, He is and He is to come. He has abundant grace, mercy, comfort, strength and wisdom which we can seek and find through Him. What a glorious truth to stand on and rejoice in!

Yesterday's At the Well topic about serving others was enlightening and an encouragement to be on the lookout to serve and show love to others. Little did I know how quickly I would be on the receiving end of great kindness. My oldest son was playing in a church softball game and had a collision! He is ok , but at first he was very disoriented and weak, so we took him to the emergency room to be checked out. It was such a blessing to be surrounded by caring friends and family. Team mates, family, friends all gathered around and met every need we had. As we were evaluating his injury and making the decision for his care, we had family that took care of the other boys, the injured son was given water, ice etc., help with loading him up in the car, our belongings taken care of, all within the space of a few hectic minutes. At the ER, many gathered to check on us and a couple of his friends stayed the entire time (3+hours) in the waiting room to make sure he was ok . The kind acts, the...

Today's topic At the Well is about serving. The questions center around ways God has led you to serve someone which was not quite expected. What can you do today to serve someone else without spending a dime? How have you benefited or been blessed by God after serving someone else? We are all familiar with the truth - " It is better to give than to receive." We try to teach this to our children when they are young and we remind ourselves of this often. Giving of ourselves and serving others is truly the right thing to do. Through some recent Sunday School lessons, I have been reminded of the important role grace plays in the life of a Christian. Grace is not a concept or a doctrine or an event. It is a continual reality to be experienced and shared. It should be a way of life. Grace recognizes the full ugliness of sin, yet it offers undeserved pardon and blessing. Here are a few examples of how we can live out grace: Grace is a gift of kindness to someone who d...

I am still at summer camp, but..I am also over here - At the Well talking about the Grace and Beauty of Marriage...

Here is a picture from church summer camp! Beautiful mornings are here!! Today is my 20 anniversary, celebrating away from dear husband, but knit together through love in our hearts!!

Be An Efficient Homeworker How's that for a topic to get things energized for a new week? If you have a home, you are a homeworker, whether or not you work outside the home. It has been said to "bloom where you are planted" and the question At the Well today is "what verses help you carry on joyfully in your calling of a homeworker. Your home is your garden, and to bear the fruit of a home filled with order, peace and joy, it takes work! I have a love/hate relationship with the woman found in Proverbs 31. I would love to be more like her, but hate how far away I am from her. But it has been said that if you aim for nothing, you will hit it every time, so everyone needs a vision or something to strive for. There are a lot of goals/visions found in Proverbs 31 and there is a lot to be learned from this woman. 13. She seeks wool and flax, and willingly works with her hands. Creativity was a gift I was never given, but the key word from this verse is "willingly...

I am headed out for a few days of summer camp! Two of my sons and I will be going to church camp, but instead of doing the regular boy things with my sons that I am so familiar with, I will be spending time in a cabin with several girls as a counselor. Keep checking in, I have a few nice things planned for this week!! Don't forget to pray for the camp!!

Ever feel like you don't understand your teen? With two teenagers, I am always on the lookout for materials to help this time of life. Maybe you are a new teen parent and just need some guidance how to handle this new territory. I've found a good and quick reading report. Download it here for free.

I love the beauty of Summer!! The flowers, the rainbows after the rain, the change of seasons that come from our Creator. This picture grabbed me with it's beauty and God's Word again reminded me of what a faithful and powerful God we serve.

Have you ever been overlooked? How did it make you feel? How did you react? What can you do as a Titus 2 woman, to be sure you don't overlook the important things (or people) in your life? These are today's questions for At the Well. Being overlooked can be an unpleasant feeling that most everyone has experienced at one time or another . It may begin as a young girl in gym class when the teams were picked. As we grow and mature, we may be overlooked for accomplishments or actions that we have done and feel deserved recognition . We may be overlooked at our jobs when we do things that go unnoticed. At home many times the daily chores of running a home can be overlooked. Kind gestures or services we offer at church may be overlooked. Being overlooked could be taken to heart as we are not appreciated, as our actions not noticed, or what we do is not important. This can cause reactions of hurt feelings, anger, bitterness or retaliation. If we ponder on the feelings on being...

Today is Word Filled Wednesday where blessings abound as God's Word is shared through picture and verse. Is this a delightful summer picture or what? The fruit look cool, refreshing and inviting. Isn't that the kind of thing that we want flowing out of our lives? Because the print is so small, here are the verses for each fruit: Love: For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. I John 5:3 Joy: Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Philippians 4:4 Peace: If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Romans 12:18 Patience: Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. II Timothy 4:2 May your Word Filled Wednesday be filled with God's fruits!

Today the discussion At the Well is : What Do You Wear To The Grocery Store? I can tell right away this is going to be a deep and personal discussion!! Some other discussion starters are : What am I allowing myself to be influenced by? Who do I allow to dictate to me what I should be wearing? How am I representing the God I claim to love and live for? Do I know the details of how God wants us to live as well as I know the details of what is in fashion? Am I seeking to become conformed to the image of Christ...or the image that our ever changing society throws in front of our faces? When my husband and I began dating and I was becoming acquainted with his family, I quickly noticed something different. Both his mother (my now mother in law) and his grandmother (her mother in law) always dressed nicely. Whether it was a trip to the grocery store, a hair appointment or a birthday party, they wore a skirt or dress slacks, nice blouse etc. As a young teenager then, I just could not fatho...